Man receives life sentence for fatally stabbing and drowning girlfriend in toilet during jealous rage

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised. 

MIAMI, FLORIDA: A man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his girlfriend by stabbing, beating, and drowning her in a toilet in her Florida apartment.

The tragic incident took place in 2013 when he found out that she had been romantically involved with another man, as per Law&Crime.

Robert Holton, aged 42, was notified of his outcome after being found guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree arson in the death of 22-year-old Kayla Gloster.

The jurors reached their decision in less than an hour after deliberation, with the choices of either life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty on the table.

What happened in the courtroom?

According to reports, Robert Holton's defense team expressed satisfaction with the jurors' decision.

Tony Moss, one of his attorneys, asserted, "There was much more to Robert Holton and his worthiness to life than his actions on that particular occasion Obviously, the jury agreed with us, and we are very happy about that."

After enduring three trials in the case, Gloster’s family finally experienced relief, especially considering that the previous two trials had resulted in mistrials.

Tangela Johnson, Gloster’s mother, stated, "Justice was served. Today marked a victory. I didn’t really have a preference between life or death. What matters most is the significant victory of the guilty verdict, and I'm satisfied with that."

Caron Dixon, the victim's grandmother, desires for the perpetrator to endure the same suffering as her beloved grandchild, stating, "He has to suffer just like my baby suffered, He’s got to suffer."

In her closing remarks, Gloster's mother portrayed her daughter as intelligent, sociable, witty, enjoyable to be with, and profoundly caring and affectionate.

Robert Holton killed Kayla Gloster in a fit of jealousy

In November 2013, the fatal incident unfolded when Holton visited Gloster’s apartment. He purportedly killed her out of jealousy upon finding out about her relationship with another man.

According to prosecutors, he allegedly strangled and stabbed her, set fire to her mattress, and drowned her in a toilet.

Gloster's lifeless body was found in her Homestead apartment, immersed in a pool of blood.

According to reports, prosecutors connected Holton to the crime using DNA evidence discovered in blood traces spread throughout the apartment.

Holton was apprehended nearly a year after the tragic event.

Assistant State Attorney Lara Penn depicted the gruesome scene, recounting how the defendant stabbed his victim in the neck.

Penn recounted, "She’s moving and fighting, he’s restraining her, that knife slips and does that cut to his right hand." 

Another attorney representing Holton, Jimmy DellaFera, denied his client's guilt and sought to undermine the investigation by pointing out alleged oversights in crucial evidence.

DellaFera argued, "For 11 months after they [police] were in complete control of all the evidence they were going to get on Robert Holton, they did not arrest Robert Holton. And that’s because Robert Holton did not kill Kayla Gloster."