No plea deal reached for Fredrick Wade

Victim's mother won't accept any agreement with less than 40-year sentence

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The man accused of killing Kalil McCoy in 2011 appears headed for a retrial after the mother of his victim was not satisfied with a plea deal that was offered on Wednesday.

Frederick Wade was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a 20-year-old former Jackson High School classmate. He was sentenced to 25 years to life, but that conviction was overturned by the 1st District Court of Appeals, which cited faulty jury instructions in his first trial.

The existence of a plea offer to avoid putting the family through a second trial came out during a hearing Wednesday morning, and the specifics were presented during a meeting with McCoy's mother Wednesday afternoon.

The offer on the table called for Wade to plead guilty to manslaughter in exchange for a 15-year sentence. McCoy's mom, Lynnette Roebuck, said she won't feel there's justice for her daughter unless Wade serves 40 years.

Kalil McCoy

"If have to go through another trial, I'm just going to put on my full armor and I'm going to fight, just like I did three years ago," Roebuck said.

According to police, Wade and three other friends were with McCoy in Wade's SUV when there was an argument. Wade was accused of pulling out a handgun and pointing it in her direction. Wade claimed that in the jostling, the gun discharged, hitting McCoy in the head.

Prosecutors said the four men dumped her body in a field. The other three in the car pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact and were sentenced to prison. 

Wade has insisted that the gun went off accidentally.

Roebuck said Wade has never apologized nor shown any remorse.

There is one more meeting scheduled next week to discuss if they can reach a plea agreement that would satisfy Roebuck before the case proceeds to trial.


About the Author:

Tarik anchors the 4, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. weekday newscasts and reports with the I-TEAM.