The accused Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter may need a new lawyer once he receives a large inheritance that is in his name.
Court records from Cruz’s late mother’s estate are sealed, but it has been revealed that Cruz and his brother are expected to inherit nearly $800,000 from their late mother’s insurance policy and several hundred thousand dollars more from the sale of her home.
Nineteen-year-old Nikolas Cruz is currently being represented by public defenders, but with the sizable inheritance, he would no longer qualify to have a public defender.
The Broward Public Defender’s Office filed a motion, Tuesday, to re-evaluate whether Cruz can afford a private attorney.
“He’s a broken human being,” said assistant public defender Melissa McNeil . “He’s a broken child.”
If Cruz inherits the money, a judge could rule he is can afford to pay for his own attorney.
If that happens, his public defenders would be removed from the case.