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Jury recommends death penalty for man convicted of killing former Lakeland commissioner, her husband

Marcelle Waldon was convicted last week of first-degree murder in the deaths of Edith "Edie" Henderson and her husband David.

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A jury has recommended that the man convicted of killing a former Lakeland city commissioner and her husband be sentenced to death for his crimes.

On Tuesday, 11 out of 12 jurors recommended the death penalty for Marcelle Waldon. Waldon was convicted last week of first-degree murder in the deaths of  Edith "Edie" Henderson and her husband David.

The Hendersons were murdered on the morning of Nov. 10, 2020, in their home near Lake Morton. Police said at the time they believed David had gone out to get breakfast and was setting it up downstairs. Unbeknownst to him, his wife had been killed upstairs inside their bedroom. 

At some point, police said, David went upstairs and found Edie stabbed to death. Waldon was reportedly still in the room; the two struggled before David was also killed. 

Credit: Lakeland Police Department

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Police said Waldon then stole one of the Hendersons' cars. That car was later found on fire in a field off Oregon Avenue. 

The couple was found dead the next morning when Lakeland police were called to do a welfare check.

Waldon was later arrested at the Relax Inn on Lakeland Hills Boulevard. He is also accused of stealing jewelry that belonged to the couple and giving it to someone who later tried to pawn it

During a news conference at the time, police suggested Waldon might have tried to burn down the Hendersons' house because officers found the gas stove with all the burners on. 

Edie Henderson served as city commissioner for Lakeland from 2006 until the beginning of 2018. 

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