A jury has recommended the death penalty for Shelby Nealy, a Florida man convicted of murdering his wife, her parents, and her brother.
The Pinellas County jury voted 11-1 in favor of the death penalty, surpassing the required eight votes. Prosecutors argued for the death penalty, citing Nealy’s lack of remorse and the severity of the crimes, according to WFLA.
Nealy is already serving a 30-year sentence for the death of his wife, Jamie Nicole Ivancic, 21.
In December 2018, Nealy then killed his wife’s parents, Richard Louis Ivancic, 71, and Laura Ann Ivancic, 59. He also killed her brother, Nicholas James Ivancic, 25, and three family dogs at a home in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
His wife’s body was found on January 6, 2019, buried at a home in Port Richey, as CrimeOnline previously reported.
Neighbors said that she lived there with her husband and two toddlers.
After the murder of his wife, Nealy pretended to be her via text and social media messages to family members for months. They became suspicious, which ultimately led to their deaths.
Meanwhile, the family of the victims issued a joint statement, thanking the jury for their efforts.
“While no sentence can ever bring back our loved ones, today justice demanded accountability—the highest accountability. We are grateful that the jury delivered it,” the statement read in, part.
“We want to sincerely thank the members of the jury who were faced with a grave and difficult task: to determine whether a remorseless murderer should spend the rest of his life in prison or face the ultimate consequence for the planned slaughter of four innocent lives.”
Nealy is scheduled for a Spencer hearing on December 9, during which he will have the opportunity to submit evidence in hopes of avoiding the death penalty.
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[Feature Photo: Jamie Ivanic/National Center For Missing and Endangered: Shelby Nealy/Pinellas County SO]
