CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The first person convicted in the death of a Clay County detective during the rain of a Middleburg meth lab two years ago is sentenced to two life terms in prison, plus 30 years.
Detective David White was shot and killed during a meth house raid on Feb. 16, 2012. Early this month Ryan Wilder, 33, was found guilty of first-degree felony murder in White's death, along with second-degree murder in the death of Ted Tilley, who was killed by Clay County deputies during the incident.
Wilder didn't pull the trigger, but because he was guilty of drug trafficking, that made him legally responsible for the deaths that occurred. Judge Don Lester sentenced Wilder to an additional 30 years on the drug charge.
During the sentencing hearing, White's wife, Jennifer, his mother and sister made victim impact statements. This was the first time White's widow spoke about her husband's death in court.
"My sweet Dave, a gentle, loving husband and father, my best friend, was gone in an instant," Jennifer White said, reading from a statement. "I was left to explain this to our little ones and face the challenges of raising them on my own. It is a process I will endure the rest of their childhoods and into their adult lives with each disappointment. I was basically given my own life sentence as were my innocent children.
She concluded by telling the judge: "Our lives have been forever changed by the actions of Mr. Wilder and all of those in that house on February 16th. I am thankful for the jury's verdicts and look for the strongest sentence to be given to fully serve justice on behalf of my husband, Detective David White.
VICTIM STATEMENTS: Jennifer White, wife | Sandy White, mother | Rachel White, sister
DOCUMENT: Full transcript of Jennifer White's victim impact statement
PHOTO ALBUM: Detective David White and family
White was 35 years old, an Army veteran and a nine-year veteran of the Sheriff's office. He was the first Clay County deputy to be killed in the line of duty in almost 40 years. He was one week shy of his 10th wedding anniversary.
White's younger sister, Rachel, recalled the chaos at the hospital the night he was killed.
"My next thought was, 'How do I tell our parents.' I never imagined having to say those words to my mom and dad or seeing my sister-in-law in shock as she rocked and held her 5-month-old son while her 5-year-old daughter held tightly to her arm," she told the judge.
"He always stood up for the underdog and couldn't stand for anyone to be mistreated," his mother, Sandy White, said in her victim impact statement.
When White and three other Clay County deputies went to the door of a suspected meth house in Middleburg, Tilley fired, killing White, and injuring his partner. Deputies returned fire, killing Tilley.
Wilder (pictured, left) didn't fire the shots that killed either White or Tilley, but since he was convicted of drug charges in the same incident, under Florida law he is responsible for the deaths that occurred.
Last month Wilder became the first to be tried in White's death. He didn't take the stand in his defense and a jury found him guilty of first-degree felony murder. Prosecutors also charged Wilder with attempted murder of White's partner, Matthew Hanlin, who was seriously injured, but the jury acquitted him of that charge.
Three other people who were in the house that night -- Chasity Prescott, Jennifer Adler and Jerry Daniels -- also face murder charges. Their final pretrial hearings are set for Jan. 12.
