By David Ovalle, The Miami Herald –
MIAMI — The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the conviction and death sentence for a Miami man who killed a 5-year-old girl and threw her into the Everglades, where she was eaten by alligators.
Harrel Franklin Braddy, 63, was convicted in 2007 of killing Quatisha Maycock and of the attempted murder of her mother.
In November 1998, Braddy kidnapped Shandelle Maycock and her daughter from a North Miami-Dade apartment building. He choked Shandelle and left her on the side of a deserted stretch of highway in Palm Beach County.
Then, Braddy — fearing that the girl could identify him to police — dumped Quatisha on the side of Alligator Alley. He led police to the area, but they did not find her body.
Two fisherman later discovered Quatisha’s mangled corpse. An autopsy revealed that she was probably alive when alligators ate her.
Braddy’s lawyers had asked the court to reverse the conviction and sentence for several reasons, including that the trial judge improperly allowed in certain evidence.
Braddy had a long history of felony convictions, including attempted murder of a corrections officer and kidnapping an elderly couple.