BAY MINETTE — An Elberta man could be looking at the death penalty for a capital murder conviction.

On Wednesday, a Baldwin County jury recommended the death sentence for 22-year-old Floyd Cardale Casey, who last week was found guilty of capital murder in the stabbing and beating death of Edward Wayne McCrory of Magnolia Springs five days before Christmas in 2008.

The jury deliberated approximately two hours, voting 10-2 in favor of the death penalty. A capital-murder conviction carries a potential sentence of death or life in prison without possibility of parole. According to the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office, Circuit Court Judge Charles Partin set the sentencing hearing for 9 a.m. Oct. 30. The judge has the discretion of delivering either sentence.

“This case was a heavy burden,” Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon said, “on the prosecution team, the defense, the judge and most particularly the jurors. We ask a lot when we ask people to recommend the death penalty, and the decision to seek that penalty is not made lightly.

“However, this defendant not only murdered Edward McCrory, he murdered Edward savagely and brutally just so that he could steal money and a four-wheeler,” she continued. “Such a merciless act deserves the harshest punishment available under the law, and I am proud of the prosecution team and the jurors for having the courage to mete out real justice to this defendant.”

The sentencing recommendation culminated a trial that lasted more than two weeks and was suspended for a day due to Tropical Storm Isaac.

Assistant District Attorney David Matheny, who prosecuted the case, characterized the murder at McCrory’s Magnolia Springs home as particularly violent, noting that McCrory, 52, was found dead in his home two days after the attack, with 11 stab wounds and 11 blunt-force wounds from a hammer and a rake handle. Nearly all of the wounds were inflicted in his back or the back of his head.

“Casey showed no mercy to Mr. McCrory during that vicious attack,” Matheny said. “The jurors made the right decision. This kind of act is not acceptable in Baldwin County.”