CHIPLEY — Zachary Taylor Wood was sentenced to death in a historic decision Tuesday.
Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson announced the sentence for Wood’s part in the murder of retired game warden James “Coon” Shores. While it was not the first death sentence to be recommended by a jury, the sentence is the first to be handed down by a judge in a Washington County courtroom under the county’s modern judicial history.
Wood delivered a statement to the court during the sentencing, both apologizing to the victim’s family and stating he felt Patterson would give him the death penalty to “further his political career.”
“I’m convicted of something I didn’t do,” Wood said. “Killing me isn’t going to bring Mr. Shores back.”
A jury recommended death for Wood in February after finding him guilty of first-degree murder, burglary of a structure while armed with a firearm and robbery with a firearm.
Washington County sheriff’s deputies found Shores, 66, shot to death on his Johnson Road property in April 2014. Deputies arrived after they received information from Alabama law enforcement that a vehicle connected to the shooting of a state trooper was registered to Shores.
Testimony indicated Shores found Wood and his co-defendant, Dillon Rafsky, on his family land after they had burglarized his family’s old homestead, which is located on the property.
According to law enforcement, Shores told the men to leave and was then beaten, bound at his feet and hands, and shot execution-style. Prosecutors stated Shores also was doused with an accelerant in an attempt to set him on fire.
In addition to the death penalty for Shores’ murder, Wood is sentenced to serve 100 years each for the burglary and robbery counts.
Wood offered to testify against Rafsky during his trial, which is expected to take place this fall.
The sentence is subject to automatic review by the Florida Supreme Court, and Wood’s family says they are preparing for an appeal.
“This has been a miscarriage of justice,” said Wood’s sister, Heather Griffin. “Zack wasn’t tried by a jury of his peers; he was tried by a jury of Mr. Shores’ peers. He was not given a fair trial.
“Zack is not responsible for Mr. Shore’s death. He is a victim. The co-defendant beat and shot Zack” before Shores’ murder. Griffin added that she believed Wood’s guilty verdict was rendered in part because of his romantic relationship with Rafsky.
“If this would have been a traditional relationship, Zack would have not been punished for his abuser’s crime,” she said. “I am truly sorry to the Shores family, but there is no peace without forgiveness in your heart.”
Shores’ family says they are simply glad the trial and sentencing are over.
“We’re glad it’s over with, but we’re not excited about it because (Wood’s family) lost a loved one, too,” said James Shores’ older brother, Joe Boy Shores. “We feel for their family.”