Jurors deliberate in Tundidor murder trial

Suspect could face death penalty if convicted

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Jurors in the Randy Tundidor Sr. murder trial ended their deliberations for the day Tuesday without a verdict.  

The jury got the case about 10:45 a.m. and spent about five hours considering whether Tundidor killed Nova Southeastern University professor Joseph Morrissey, who was stabbed to death in April 2010.

The jury asked two questions during the day. They asked to see surveillance video that prosecutors said shows Tundidor burning bloody clothes behind his window tinting business in Davie just hours after the crime. 

The jury also wanted to see the transcript of the secret audio recording of Tundidor talking about the crime to his youngest son, Shawn Tundidor, who wore a police wire to help detectives make the arrest. 

Morrissey was killed at his Plantation home by armed intruders who tied up and robbed his wife and him. After the professor was killed, the attackers set the home on fire. Linda Morrissey and her 5-year-old son managed to escape the flames. 

Tundidor and his son, Randy Tundidor Jr., are both charged in the case. Randy Tundidor Jr. has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and will avoid the death penalty because he agreed to testify against his father. Prosecutors said Randy Tundidor Sr. was the mastermind of the crime, and after his son broke into the home, he came in and stabbed the professor nine times with a hunting knife.

 Randy Tundidor Sr. claimed Randy Tundidor Jr. and his other son, Shawn Tundidor, committed the crime and have conspired to frame him. 

The jury will be sequestered for the night, and they are scheduled to resume their deliberations at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. 

Randy Tundidor Sr. could face the death penalty if he's convicted.