Sade Dixon, a 24-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on December 13, 2016, in Orlando, Florida. Sade was pregnant at the time of her death, carrying the child of her ex-boyfriend, Markeith Loyd. The incident occurred outside her family's home in Pine Hills, where she had moved back just three days prior. On the night of her death, Sade stepped outside after receiving a phone call, and her brothers, Dominique Daniels and Ronald Stewart, heard arguing.
When Stewart went to check on her, he found both Sade and himself shot by Loyd. Sade was pronounced dead at 9:16 p.m., and her unborn child also did not survive. Stewart was critically injured but survived after extensive medical treatment.
Markeith Loyd, who had a history of abusive behavior towards Sade, was identified as the primary suspect. Loyd had been in a relationship with Sade for about three months, during which time he had met her family multiple times. Just days before the murder, Sade had told her family about a physical altercation with Loyd, during which he bit her, necessitating a tetanus shot. On the night of the murder, Loyd shot Sade multiple times and also fired at her brother and mother as he fled the scene. The Orange County Sheriff's Office charged Loyd with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, and one count of attempted murder.
Loyd evaded arrest for several weeks following the murder, leading to a widespread manhunt. He was eventually captured on January 17, 2017. During his trial, Loyd claimed he acted in self-defense, but the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder for the deaths of Sade Dixon and her unborn child. He was also convicted of attempted first-degree murder for shooting Ronald Stewart. The jury deliberated for nearly five hours before delivering their verdict. Loyd was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case drew significant media attention, not only because of the brutal nature of the crime but also due to Loyd's subsequent actions. After killing Sade, Loyd was also involved in the fatal shooting of Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton during his time on the run. This led to additional charges and another high-profile trial, where prosecutors sought the death penalty. However, for the murder of Sade Dixon and her unborn child, Loyd was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment, providing some measure of justice for Sade's grieving family.
