The two murders that shocked the Alachua County community this year had case hearings this afternoon, and state prosecutors have decided not to seek the death penalty for one of the accused.
State Prosecutor Sean Brewer announced to Judge James Nilon today he will not seek the death penalty for 25 year old Antonio Drayton. Drayton was arrested February 22nd for the murder of his ex-girlfriend UF cheerleader Saleeha Huuda. Alachua County Sheriff's detectives say Drayton killed Huuda and burned her body on the side of county road 225 near the Gainesville Raceway.
Prosecutors say Drayton's criminal history and the evidence in the case does not meet their threshold for seeking the death penalty. Huuda's autopsy reveals the cause of death was strangulation.
Immediately following Drayton was 19-year-old Guenevere Hudnall. Also represented by defense attorney Alan Chipperfield, Hudnall is charged with the first degree murder of her father, William Hudnall of Hawthorne.
She was arrested June 11th by Alachua County deputies who say she killed her father with a pickaxe. Investigators say she and her mother plotted to kill Hudnall to collect his insurance benefits. Nothing was decided in Hudnall's appearance today. Hudnalls mother, Stephanie, will appear in court for a case hearing on August 25th.
Judge Nilon scheduled Drayton and Guenevere Hudnall's next case hearings for October 6th.