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Eriese Tisdale resentenced to death for 2013 killing of St. Lucie County deputy

Sgt. Gary Morales fatally shot inside his patrol car in 2013

St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office

By: Jon Shainman

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and last updated

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — A man who shot and killed a St. Lucie County deputy more than a decade ago was resentenced to death on Monday.

"Eriese Alfonso Tisdale, I hearby sentence you to death," Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Mirman said.

Those words marked the second time that Tisdale has been sentenced to death for gunning down Sgt. Gary Morales during a traffic stop in 2013.

WATCH: Victim's brother, state attorney speak to WPTV after resentencing

Victim's relative speaks out after man resentenced to death for killing of St. Lucie County deputy

“We’re just glad it’s over," said Ken Morales, the victim's brother. "Whether it was the death penalty or life in prison, we’re just glad he’s not coming out."

Morales was married with two young children at the time. Tisdale was initially sentenced to death in 2016, but that was overturned on appeal. Changes in Florida’s death penalty laws led to this more than decade long legal saga.

“I feel incumbent upon myself to apologize on behalf of the criminal justice system here in the state of Florida for the unnecessary, torturous delay experienced by the families," said State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl.

“Devastating the first trial, devastating when we had to do it over again and bring back memories," said Ken Morales.

Ken Morales said as a Christian, he has forgiven Tisdale, whose actions shook the law enforcement community.

“Knew Gary, went to SWAT school with him. Wasn’t working at the agency, was working nearby in Port St. Lucie at the time, so it effected us as well," said St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro.

A jury in September 2024, voted 9 to 3 in favor of Tisdale's execution. Mirman weighed both the aggravating and mitigating factors before making his decision.

WATCH PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Killer of St. Lucie County deputy fights to stay off death row

Killer of St. Lucie County sergeant fights to stay off death row

"The court finds the defendant’s tears when he was speaking to his retained expert were crocodile tears," said the judge.

Tisdale asked the judge to speak after the sentence was handed down.

The judge said no but Tisdale got a few words out as he was led out of court, unhappy with how the judge pronounced his name.

"Learn to say somebody’s name before you sentence them to death," said Tisdale.

The case does automatically get appealed to the Florida Supreme Court. The St. Lucie County Sheriff told WPTV this afternoon, he hopes to have Tisdale on the next bus to Starke State Prison.

WPTV'S PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF THIS CASE: