Florida Man in Notorious Assault Case Re-Sentenced to Life Without Parole After Supreme Court Ruling
A Florida man convicted as a teen in a widely publicized 2008 assault case has been re-sentenced to life in prison without parole, following a bid to have his sentence reduced under updated juvenile sentencing laws.
Kendrick Morris, who was a minor at the time of the violent attack that left a young woman permanently disabled, was initially sentenced to 65 years behind bars. His attorneys recently appealed for a lighter sentence, citing a 2021 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that long prison terms for juveniles must allow for parole unless the offender is deemed permanently beyond rehabilitation.
Morris’s defense argued that he had shown meaningful growth during his time in prison, backed by expert testimony suggesting improved maturity and behavior. Despite these arguments, Judge Chet Tharpe denied the request and imposed a life sentence without parole, calling the crime especially brutal and the impact on the victim lifelong and devastating.
The assault occurred outside the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library in Valrico, Florida, where the victim, a recent high school graduate, was returning books. The attack left her with severe impairments to speech, movement, and vision. Since then, she has required full-time medical care.
The victim’s sister, Anna Donato, acknowledged the resentencing as a bittersweet outcome—satisfied that justice remained intact, but deeply affected by the irreversible consequences of that day. “It’s not a win,” she said. “It’s a tragic reminder of lives altered forever.”
Morris also had a prior conviction from a 2007 assault, which was factored into the resentencing decision and had already resulted in a life term.
Though the Supreme Court decision allows juvenile offenders to request sentence reviews, Morris’s case illustrates that resentencing does not guarantee leniency. Judges weigh the crime’s severity, the offender’s rehabilitation, and the long-term harm to victims.
Despite ongoing physical and emotional struggles, survivor Queena Phu continues to inspire through her strength. Her family now advocates for victims’ rights and supports other survivors through a foundation in her name.
Morris may seek another sentence review in 2031, but any changes remain uncertain. Both families involved continue to grapple with the lasting effects—one coping with loss, the other hoping for a second chance.