Friday, September 4, 2009

Fla. man faces execution in cheerleader slaying


The Associated Press

A Florida jury has convicted a man of murdering a 17-year-old high school cheerleader, putting her body in the trunk of a car and setting the vehicle on fire in an orange grove.

The Bartow jury deliberated for about seven hours Thursday before convicting Eric Rodriguez. The same jurors will return Tuesday to consider whether the 23-year-old Haines City man should receive the death penalty.

Investigators said Rodriguez was one of three men who confessed to luring Angelia Headrick to an apartment in January 2007, robbing her of money and a small amount of drugs, then killing her.

One accepted a plea deal sentencing him to 15 years in prison in exchange for his testimony. The other has yet to stand trial.

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