He Wondered What It Felt Like to Kill — So, He Went to the Bank
On a seemingly ordinary January morning in 2019, Zephen Xaver walked into a SunTrust Bank in Sebring, Florida, with a chilling plan. Minutes later, five women lay dead, victims of a man who later admitted he wanted to know what it felt like to kill. Nearly six years later, on Dec. 16, 2024, Circuit Judge Angela Cowden sentenced him to death, saying, "May God have mercy on your soul," according to PEOPLE.
A Calculated Massacre
Xaver's actions on Jan. 23, 2019, were no spontaneous outburst. He texted an ex-girlfriend that morning, teasing, "I'm dying today," and later followed with, "I'm taking a few people with me because I've always wanted to kill people so I'm going to try it and see how it goes," as reported by The New York Times. Armed with a gun, he waited for a male customer to leave the bank before forcing the five women in the bank — one customer and four employees — to lie face down. Without hesitation, he shot each one execution-style.
The victims, whose lives ended so tragically, were:
- Cynthia Watson, 65: A customer who had been married less than a month
- Marisol Lopez, 55: A mother of two
- Ana Pinon-Williams, 38: A mother of seven
- Debra Cook, 54: A mother of two and a grandmother
- Jessica Montague, 31: A mother of one and stepmother to four
According to the sentencing memorandum cited by NYtimes.com, the women cried and asked why, as Xaver carried out his grim plan.
Warning Signs Ignored
The massacre didn't come without warning. Xaver, who moved to Sebring, Florida, in 2018, had a history of troubling behavior. He joined the U.S. Army in 2016 but received a discharge after three months. Later, during his short stint as a correctional officer trainee at Avon Park Correctional Institution, he resigned just weeks before the murders.
Multiple people raised red flags about Xaver in the years leading up to the crime. An ex-girlfriend he met in a mental hospital revealed to authorities that Xaver viewed the military as a "way to kill people and get away with it," according to PEOPLE. In 2017, a Michigan woman reported text messages from Xaver suggesting he might commit "suicide by cop" or take hostages, as reported by NYtimes.com. Despite these disturbing signs, he managed to obtain a driver's license and purchase the firearm used in the attack.
The Trial and Sentence
Xaver's trial revealed the calculated nature of his crimes. Prosecutor Brian Haas, quoted by The New York Times, described the killings as "systematic." Haas added, "He did this because he wanted to find out what it felt like to kill someone, and he planned it."
In March 2023, Xaver pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder, waiving his right to a trial. During the two-week penalty phase in June, a jury recommended the death penalty in a 9-3 vote. Florida law, updated in 2023, allowed the judge to impose capital punishment with a non-unanimous jury decision. Judge Cowden delivered the sentence, marking the end of a case that deeply affected Sebring and beyond.
The Families Speak Out
The sentencing brought a small measure of closure for the victims' families. In court, Kiara Lopez, daughter of Marisol Lopez, addressed Xaver directly, saying, "You always wanted to achieve your sadistic dreams of killing innocent people, and now everyone you hurt has to deal with the consequences," as reported by The New York Times.
A Legacy of Tragedy
This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of ignored warning signs and unchecked violence. While Xaver's sentence will automatically go to the Florida Supreme Court for appeal, the memories of his victims — Cynthia, Marisol, Ana, Debra, and Jessica — remain a haunting call for vigilance and compassion. Their families and the Sebring community will continue to carry the weight of this tragedy for years to come.
References: Former Prison Guard Trainee Who Executed 5 Women in Bank Sentenced to Death | Florida Man Is Sentenced to Death for Killing 5 Women in a Bank in 2019
