Florida Man Sentenced to Life for Murder-for-Hire Plot
A man from Florida has been sentenced to life in prison after orchestrating a brutal murder-for-hire scheme involving the killing of a 17-year-old girl. Leonard White, 36, hired his cousin, Sheldon Robinson, 21, offering him at least $6,000 to ensure that the girl wouldn’t testify about a sexual assault that took place in 2023.
Prosecutors announced the verdict on Monday, confirming that both White and Robinson were convicted of murder and conspiracy in connection with the crime. Allegedly, when Isabella Scavelli answered the door at Robinson’s parents’ home on February 7, 2023, he unleashed a barrage of gunfire, which tragically killed her and injured her mother.
In a statement, authorities noted, “The bullet that killed Scavelli struck her in the back as she attempted to flee for help.” Her mother, who was also shot, witnessed the horrifying scene, falling to the ground as her daughter was killed.
A third accomplice in this case, Keshawn Woods, 22, had earlier pleaded guilty to his part in the conspiracy. Additionally, all three men faced charges for tampering with evidence and obstructing justice. Robinson’s mother, Janet Williams, was also charged for lying to investigators in an effort to conceal the crime.
Scavelli, identified as the victim, had reported the sexual assault to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office just a day before the shooting. It was noted that White tried to portray himself as uninvolved by claiming he was out of state at the time of the incident, but law enforcement quickly saw through his deception.
Interestingly, White even took to social media to express a fake search for the person responsible for Scavelli’s death, attempting to deflect suspicion from himself. However, this ruse did little to exonerate him.
Following a two-week trial, both White and Robinson were found guilty last week, and now face “multiple life sentences” when they are sentenced in January.
Authorities also revealed that the duo discussed eliminating another possible witness, underscoring the extent of their planned criminal activities.
