A Florida inmate with a reputation for attacking fellow prisoners now faces a possible death sentence for fatally beating one of his cellmates.
Shawn Rogers, 37, was found guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder and kidnapping by Santa Rosa County jurors.
Jurors convicts Rogers for the 2012 murder of Ricky D. Martin. Rogers is said to have tied 24-year-old Martin by his hands and feet, and tied ripped bed sheets around his neck.
Martin was found bleeding and nearly naked in the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution cell, suffering from blunt force trauma and cutting wounds, and had boxer shorts and a prayer rug placed over his head.
The state is now seeking the death penalty against Rogers. Next, the jury will move to the penalty phase and decide if he will be sent to death row.
Rogers already is serving a life sentence. The state dropped charges against Rogers briefly earlier this year when Florida's death penalty laws were unclear, but State Attorney Bill Eddins said at the time that the only reason they did that was so prosecutors could re-file charges and seek the death penalty.
The state's revised law mandates juries unanimously impose death, as opposed to the former 10-2 verdict requirement.
Assistant State Attorney Bill Bishop says the penalty phase of Rogers' case will begin Friday.