Jury: Wilder guilty in detective's killing

Wilder 1st of 4 defendants to be tried in killing of Detective David White

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – A jury found Ryan Wilder guilty of first degree felony murder Monday in the death of a Clay County detective who was shot and killed during a meth raid in 2012.

Wilder, who was inside a Middleburg home during the raid when Detective David White was killed, was charged with first-degree felony murder and attempted murder in the shooting death of White (pictured below) and shooting of Detective Matt Hanlin.

Recommended Videos



Investigators said Ted Tilley fired the shots, then was killed by another detective.

Wilder was acquitted of three attempted murder charges, but was also found guilty of manufacturing meth and second-degree felony murder in Tilley's death.

Wilder, who now faces two life sentences on the murder charges, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 24.

Prosecutors said Wilder and three others were in the home making meth, a felony. Under the felony murder charges, each person assisting in the death is responsible when someone is killed during the commission of a felony.

During closing arguments Monday, the state again described White's final moments trying to enforce the law and protect his community.

"You also know from testimony from a DNA expert that little marker on the right was the blood of White," a prosecutor said. "And you heard testimony of (Lt.) Barry (Abramowitz), how he put his back against a wall to stop the bleeding and save White's life."

Prosecutors made it clear the men and women squatting inside the Alligator Boulevard home were actively manufacturing meth. They said Wilder told investigators he had helped make meth 90 times with Tilley -- 30-40 times inside this Middleburg home.

"The testimony was clear even from the defense that wet meth is an indication of recent manufacturing. It's still wet with no chance to dry out," a prosecutor said.

The defense said Wilder should not be convicted because he had nothing to do with pulling the trigger.

"Ted Tilley's actions of resisting police and attempting to escape from the home was only one person's idea -- Ted Tilley, and Tilley alone," defense attorney Ann Finnell said. "There was not a shred of evidence that Wilder could have foreseen that kind of outcome."

Finnell pointed to a picture of Tilley's bloody body on the screen and addressed the jury, telling them she knows this case is difficult for everyone because a law enforcement officer lost his life, but Wilder is not responsible.

"Did you hear any witness say Ryan Wilder did anything to encourage or to help Tilley or assist Ted Tilley shooting at police?" Finnell said. "Was there one word of encouragement that Ryan Wilder said? Did you hear them say, 'Shoot them, Ted!' No, absolutely not."

Last week, prosecutors called 21 witnesses, while defense attorneys called two.

A motion for direct acquittal on the charges was denied, except for one. The charge of possession of a firearm by convicted felon was dismissed.