MIAMI (WSVN) – Two South Florida men learned their fate in a 13-year murder investigation after they took a plea deal.
In court Wednesday, Reginald Lewis Jackson and Roderick Martin both pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, a lesser charge than what they were initially facing: the death penalty.
The defendants stood trial for the murders of 69-year-old Annette Anderson and Tyrone Walker Jr., her 20-year-old grandson, who were found tied up and shot execution-style in Miami Gardens on July 16, 2013.
Anderson was a minister at Jesus People Ministries in Miami Gardens, and her violent death shook an entire community.
At the time, neighbors told 7News they were shocked by the news.
“I’m in shock. I’m really in shock,” said a woman.
Investigators said the defendants’ motive was robbery. Police would later arrest them for the killings.
In court on Wednesday, Judge Ellen Venzer wondered why the duo decided to kill two innocent people.
“What could’ve been the basis to take these two lives and snuff them out?” she asked. “Could you put some closure on this, gentlemen?”
Jackson and Martin declined to speak.
Venzer then sentenced Jackson to 40 years in prison and Martin to 25 years in prison.
“How unfortunate that families will never understand what could’ve been the basis to take these two lives and snuff them out. I hope you have a whole lotta time to think about it, gentlemen,” she said.
Jackson’s attorney, Jimmy Della Fera, explained the decision for staying silent, citing his client’s behavior in court on April 21, when he reportedly stormed out of court after rejecting a plea deal.
“I don’t want to reopen a can of worms. I didn’t think that it would be a very good idea to go there, because clearly, if questions were going to be asked, everyone saw what happened the other day, and I didn’t want there to be another outbreak in the middle of the courtroom,” said Della Fera.
During that initial plea deal hearing, it was derailed after Jackson apparently became upset because his family was not able to be in the courtroom and refused to participate in the proceedings.
“I’m done. We’re not playing this,” said Venzer on April 21 during Jackson’s speech.
“It ain’t like I’m denying anything. I want to see my family…” said Jackson to his lawyer.
Days later, however, the plea deal would proceed, ending the decades-long journey to justice.
“It’s complete relief, both for obviously the family of Annette Anderson and Tyrone Walker and also for the family of Reginald Jackson. I think it’s a loss for the whole community that we have to constantly be facing these things where people are murdered,” said Della Fera.
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox