State Attorney R.J. Larizza filed the notice of intent to seek the death penalty in a Florida capital sexual battery case against defendant Dimeco Henderson.
Henderson is accused of sexually abusing two child victims over three years. He was indicted by the Putnam County Grand Jury last month on two counts of Sexual Battery on victim less than 12 years of age and Lewd/Lascivious Battery on victim less than 16 years of age.
This is the first time this office has filed this notice in a Capital Sexual Battery case since Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new law allowing a jury to recommend a death sentence for the crime.
“The defendant is a serial pedophile who previously raped and/or assaulted two child victims,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. “The sentences for those earlier crimes were woefully inadequate – and he has struck again – raping a 10-year-old autistic child and her best friend. As long as the defendant breathes, he will rape vulnerable and innocent children. It is time for him to go.”
The case was investigated by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorneys Mark Lewis and Deb Rothenberg are the prosecutors assigned to the case.
