Cecil Henry Floyd

Case record: Cecil Henry Floyd

Background

Cecil Henry Floyd was an Indiana State Prison inmate. He was incarcerated at the state prison in Michigan City since 1975.

Ed Cohn, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Correction, said Floyd waived extradition to Florida, where he was charged in 3 other slayings. Even if Floyd were to be sentenced to death in any of the Florida cases, Floyd likely would be returned to Indiana to continue serving out a life sentence, Cohn said.

The offence

1973 hitchhiker slaying near Lebanon

Floyd was convicted of the fatal 1973 shooting of Henry Maser during a robbery near Lebanon.

Henry Maser had been hitchhiking when Floyd and 2 others he was traveling with stopped to pick Maser up. Maser was shot and killed. Floyd’s assailant made off with just $5.

Florida slayings

Floyd faced extradition for 3 counts of murder in Orange County, Fla. The killings in Florida occurred between November 1973 and May 1974.

One of the Florida victims, Karen Chitwood, was stabbed and slashed with a knife.

Nebraska killing: Lester Schmidt

Floyd was convicted and sentenced to life for murdering Lester Schmidt in July 1974.

Lester Schmidt was a gas station attendant. Schmidt was shot 3 times in the head by Floyd. Floyd took the cash register and fled.

Kansas killing

Floyd eventually pleaded guilty to the murder of a man who was slain in Abilene, Kan., 3 days after the Nebraska killing.

Investigation

Barry Nothstine, a prison spokesman, said Floyd confessed to the hitchhiker slaying while in custody on the robbery charge after his arrest.

Nothstine said Floyd was arrested a short time later in connection with an armed robbery in Arkansas.

Arrest

Floyd was arrested a short time later in connection with an armed robbery in Arkansas.

Trial

Indiana conviction

Floyd was convicted in Indiana of the fatal 1973 shooting of Henry Maser during a robbery near Lebanon.

He was sentenced to life in prison in Indiana on June 10, 1975.

Nebraska conviction and sentencing

Floyd was convicted in Hamilton County, Neb., and sentenced to life for murdering Lester Schmidt in July 1974.

Sentencing

Floyd was sentenced to life in prison in Indiana on June 10, 1975.

Floyd was sentenced to life in prison in Nebraska.

Because Floyd had been sentenced to 2 life terms, in Indiana and Nebraska, Nothstine said Floyd cannot be paroled here.

Cohn said Floyd’s case was not so clearly defined, and it was possible the inmate eventually could be paroled in Indiana and turned over to Florida authorities.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Extradition and hearings in Florida

Floyd appeared before LaPorte Circuit Judge Robert Gilmore on Wednesday to hear Florida authorities wanted to extradite him for 3 counts of murder in Orange County, Fla.

Floyd waived extradition.

Floyd said:

"They got me cold turkey. If I fight this thing I'll get the death penalty. To me, the warrant says you're going regardless,"

Cohn said that it wasn't clear when Florida authorities would try to transport Floyd there.

Cohn said:

"That (a death sentence) does not give Florida ultimate control over him. He's an Indiana inmate doing life. We would expect him to be returned to Indiana to continue serving his sentence here,"

The Florida attorney general’s office said anyone convicted of 1st-degree murder in Florida is eligible for that state's death penalty.

Other details

Floyd was wearing a yellow prison uniform and shackles on his thin and wrinkled body when he appeared before LaPorte Circuit Judge Robert Gilmore.

Cohn said Floyd would be returned to Indiana to continue serving his sentence in Indiana even if he were sentenced to death in Florida.

Floyd waived extradition to Florida.

Floyd pleaded guilty to the murder of a man who was slain in Abilene, Kan., 3 days after the Nebraska killing.

Timeline

• June 10, 1975 — Cecil Henry Floyd was sentenced to life in prison in Indiana.
• July 1974 — Floyd was convicted and sentenced to life in Hamilton County, Nebraska for murdering Lester Schmidt.
• November 1973 — One Florida killing occurred (Orange County, Fla.), part of the period of killings charged in Florida.
• May 1974 — One Florida killing occurred (Orange County, Fla.), part of the period of killings charged in Florida.