Parkland school shooting verdict: Count 16 in penalty phase is Jaime Guttenberg

Jamie Guttenberg (JAMIE GUTTENBERG/FACEBOOK via CNN)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer announced on Oct. 13 that a divided jury recommended life in prison without the possibility of parole as punishment for the Parkland school shooter on count 16 of first-degree murder.

Count 16 of 17 in the penalty phase is for the murder of Jaime Guttenberg who Nikolas Cruz killed on Feb. 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, according to Scherer.

Jaime, 14, a freshman, was on the 1200 building’s third floor running to the stairwell when Cruz shot her, according to Chief Assistant State Attorney Mike Satz.

Coral Springs Detective David Alfin testified on July 22 that he found Jaime’s body in the third-floor landing, near where Cruz abandoned his rifle and vest.

Dr. Marlon Osbourne, a forensic pathologist with the medical examiner’s office, performed her autopsy. He testified Jaime died of gunshot wounds to the neck and torso.

Jaime was dedicated to dancing and she was a competitive member of the Dance Theatre Extreme Team.

Interactive graphic: Understanding the choices jurors made on the verdict form

Videos of court testimony related to Jaime’s case

Jaime’s mother, Jennifer Guttenberg, reads her victim impact statement

Jaime’s father, Fred Guttenberg, reads his victim impact statement

Teacher Ernest Rospierski testifies

Interactive graphic on the penalty phase


About the Author:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.