'I am a homicidal maniac:' Scott Nelson says he wants to be sentenced to death

Nelson convicted of murdering Jennifer Fulford

ORLANDO, Fla. – Convicted killer Scott Nelson said Monday during the penalty phase of his trial that he wants to receive the death sentence for the murder of a Winter Park caretaker.

The sentencing phase of Nelson's trial resumed Monday after an Orange County judge sent the jury home last week. 

The defense cross-examined Dr. Valerie McClain, a psychologist who went over a checklist of questions she asked Nelson during their sessions earlier this year. 

She explained that Nelson developed trauma growing up after he said he was physically abused by his older brothers. She said Nelson went through life-threatening events when he was young.

"I do think his ability to regulate his behavior was definitely impacted," McClain said. 

Nelson later took the stand on two different occasions. 

The Honorable Judge Keith White asked him if he was sure he wanted to take the stand and said if he did, comments he made could hurt the case the defense has been building. 

Even with White's questions, Nelson took the stand and said, "I am a homicidal maniac."

When the state asked Nelson if he wanted to be sentenced to death, he replied, "Yes."

The judge called out Nelson in court Wednesday after Nelson interrupted a prosecutor who was asking a witness about Nelson's use of racial slurs.

"He called me a racist in front of five black jurors. Mistrial now," Nelson said.

Nelson was recently found guilty of killing Jennifer Fulford, 56, in 2017.

During the trial, Nelson provided chilling details about Fulford's death. Nelson blamed his parole officer for her murder. 

Last week, jurors heard statements from Fulford's relatives and Nelson's brother.

The trial's penalty phase is set to resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday.


About the Authors:

Ezzy Castro is a multimedia journalist on News 6's morning team who has a passion for telling the stories of the people in the Central Florida community. Ezzy worked at WFOR CBS4 in South Florida and KBMT in Beaumont, Texas, where she covered Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Being from Miami, Ezzy loves Cuban coffee and croquetas!

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