State wins conviction in first-degree murder trial

Today, Bryan L. Shorstein, Public Information Officer for State Attorney R. J. Larizza, announced to local Historic City News reporters that at the end of a three-day trial, 40-year-old Christopher William McCook of St. Augustine was found guilty of first-degree murder in the strangulation death of Keneshia Gadson.

The evidence showed that McCook used an electrical cord to strangle Gadson in a motel room in October of 2016. She also suffered several blunt force trauma injuries to her head.

A jury of 9 women and 3 men deliberated for a little over two hours before returning the guilty verdict. Immediately following pronouncement of the verdict, McCook was sentenced to life in prison for the crime.

Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Dunton and Sharleen Sullivan successfully tried the case for the State. Dunton was the lead prosecutor. Circuit Judge Howard Maltz presided over the trial.