A Florida man has been convicted of orchestrating the murder of a 17-year-old girl who reported him to police for sexual battery, in a chilling case of witness elimination that has shocked the community.
The Crime and Immediate Aftermath
Lenard White, 37, enlisted his cousin, Sheldon Robinson, to carry out the killing of Isabella Scavelli just one day after she and her mother, La Shawn Pope, reported the sexual assault to Hernando County Sheriff's Office on February 6, 2023.
The brutal attack occurred around midnight on February 7, when Robinson arrived at the family's home and fired a barrage of gunshots as Isabella answered the door. The teenager was shot in the back as she attempted to flee from the doorway to seek help.
Her mother, La Shawn Pope, was also struck multiple times during the shooting and collapsed on the ground, forced to witness her daughter's final moments. According to court documents, there were genuine concerns that La Shawn might not survive her injuries, requiring her to be airlifted to a Tampa hospital for emergency treatment.
Investigation and Convictions
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office, working alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), quickly identified both Robinson and White as persons of interest in the case.
Investigators later recovered the murder weapon from Robinson's back garden, where he had buried it following the shooting. The weapon remained hidden for six months before being discovered by authorities.
Both men were convicted on multiple serious charges, including conspiracy to commit murder for hire, murder for hire, witness tampering, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and a single count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Victim's Legacy and Sentencing
Isabella Scavelli was in her junior year of high school and actively involved in several school programmes, including the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). Her promising future was brutally cut short by the calculated attack.
The US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the convictions this week, following a federal jury trial that found White guilty of all charges. Both defendants now face multiple life sentences for their crimes.
White and Robinson are scheduled to return to court for sentencing on January 30, 2026, where they are expected to receive the maximum penalties for their roles in the calculated murder of a teenage witness.
