About a month after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Savannah Gold, his Bonefish Grill co-worker, Lee Rodarte was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in prison. AdRodarte kept his back turned to Gold’s family and wiped tears as he listened to Gold’s father talk about her lion’s heart. Her mother, Sharon Gold, said Gold spoke about the impact the number 21 has had on their family. She said 21 was the number Savannah wore in sports, 21 was tattooed on her arm and ’21 is the year her killer goes to prison. “To our family, extended family and community, our hearts have begun to heal because of your love and support,” Daniel Gold said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As his victim’s parents watched on a livestream feed, Lee Rodarte pleaded guilty Thursday, admitting that he killed his 21-year-old Bonefish Grill co-worker in 2017. Police later determined that she met with Rodarte the day before at the Bonefish Grill where the couple worked. AdThe trial judge first denied the petition, but Rodarte’s attorney appealed that ruling to the First District Court of Appeals. The case had been on hold since then, while the appeals court mulled over a ruling. The appeals court later sided with the initial judge’s ruling.

For the first time since her body was found in a Westside lake two years ago, we're hearing from Savannah Gold's parents; she's the young woman who police say was murdered outside the Mandarin... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

For the first time since her body was found in a Westside lake two years ago, we're hearing from Savannah Gold's parents; she's the young woman who police say was murdered outside the Mandarin... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.