Savannah Mathis’ family comes face-to-face with her killer as he learns his fate: 'Justice was served'
TAMPA, Fla. - The family of a promising nursing student who was gunned down two years ago in a case of mistaken identity told the man convicted of killing her exactly what they thought of him during his sentencing hearing on Thursday.
It was a packed courtroom on Thursday afternoon for the sentencing of Vakarvery Scott. Before his sentence was handed down, he heard from those he hurt the most.
LaMaria Smith, Savannah Mathis' mother, talked about her lifetime of heartbreak, but she also mentioned forgiveness.
LaMaria Smith told Scott she forgives him but cannot forget what he did to her daughter.
"I do forgive you because your actions are not gonna stop me from going to heaven and seeing my daughter again, but on the other hand, I will not forget what you did to my daughter for no reason. Justice was served," Smith stated.
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Savannah Mathis’ grandfather, Clifford Williams, told Scott that there was an opportunity for him to do some good while he’s locked up.
"I told you I forgive you. I said it’s hard but I gotta do it," said Williams.
Nena Mathis gives a victim impact statement at Scott's sentencing hearing.
Nena Mathis, Savannah’s sister, spoke too.
"You have no right to be judge, jury, and be my sister's executioner," Nena Mathis stated.
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Nena Mathis was in the car the day she and her sister were shot while driving around a Tampa neighborhood on December 1, 2021.
Pictured: Savannah Mathis
Surveillance video showed the two circling the Oakhurst apartments on N. Delaware Ave.
Nena Mathis testified at Scott’s trial in February that she was checking on her ex-boyfriend when suddenly they were dodging bullets.
"As we were turning the corner, my sister screamed my name and that’s when shots were fired, and we crashed," she testified.
Scott also took the stand in his defense and explained to the jury he pulled the trigger in a case of mistaken identity.
Surveillance video shows the moments gunfire erupted.
He explained that he was also a victim of a drive-by shooting a year earlier and believed it was going to happen again.
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"People in the neighborhood were saying they are going to shoot they’re going to shoot. They said there were three people in the car with masks in the backseat," he testified.
But the jury didn’t believe his story and found him guilty of first-degree murder.
Vakarvery Scott was sentenced to life in prison.
Scott never spoke during the hour-long hearing.
The final word went to Tampa Judge Samantha Ward, who sentenced him to life in prison.
Afterward, Scott was fingerprinted and taken away.
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