Florida Jury Spares Life of 76-Year-Old Convicted in 1998 Kidnap-Murder of 5-Year-Old Girl
MIAMI, FL — More than two decades after the brutal murder of 5-year-old Quatisha "Candy" Maycock shocked South Florida, a jury has decided that the man responsible will spend the rest of his life in prison, not face execution.
Harrel Braddy, now 76, was convicted in 2007 for the 1998 kidnapping of Shandelle Maycock and her young daughter, Candy, from their home. After Shandelle rejected his romantic advances, Braddy forced them into a car. He beat and choked Shandelle unconscious before abandoning her in a remote area. Two days later, Candy's body was discovered in a section of the Florida Everglades known as "Alligator Alley," bearing fatal wounds consistent with an alligator attack.
While a previous jury had recommended death in 2007, that sentence was overturned following a 2017 Florida Supreme Court ruling that required unanimous jury votes for capital punishment. A resentencing trial concluded last week with the new jury opting for life imprisonment without parole.
During the emotional retrial, Shandelle Maycock recounted the night of terror. Prosecutors presented graphic evidence, including medical testimony detailing the child's injuries. Braddy's defense portrayed him as a grieving family man and former church leader, arguments the jury ultimately weighed against the horrific nature of the crime.
This case highlights the legal turmoil surrounding Florida's death penalty statutes over the past decade and raises enduring questions about justice for victims of heinous crimes committed years ago.
Public Reaction
Michael Torres, Legal Analyst: "This verdict reflects the current legal landscape. Securing a unanimous death sentence is a very high bar, especially for a defendant of this age. The focus shifts to the finality of a life sentence."
Reverend Clara Jenkins, Community Advocate: "Our prayers remain with the Maycock family, who have endured this prolonged legal process. While no sentence can bring Candy back, we hope this brings a measure of closure."
David K. Miller, Former Prosecutor: "It's an absolute failure of justice. The facts of this case—abducting a child from her bed and leaving her to such a fate—define the very reason the death penalty exists. The system has betrayed that little girl a second time."
Sarah Chen, Victim's Rights Counselor: "The prolonged trauma for the mother, having to testify multiple times over 25 years, is unimaginable. The finality of this sentence, however unsatisfying to some, may at least end the recurring legal wounds."