PERRY, Fla. (WTXL) - The third suspect charged in the murder of a well-known Taylor County teacher was sentenced to 30 years in person Tuesday.
Rodney Whiddon was set to start trial that morning to face a number of charges in the 2015 death of Shelly Strickland.
Whiddon's son Manden agreed to a plea deal in February 2017 for 15 years in prison and an additional 15 years probation in exchange for testimony that claimed he, his father and Garrett Arrowood were involved in Strickland's death.
Arrowood, Strickland's nephew, was sentenced to life in prison for her death. He is currently being held at the Florida Department of Corrections in Jasper.
According to the state attorney's office, Manden Whiddon recanted portions of his testimony just prior to the scheduled start of Rodney Whiddon's trial. A jury was already seated, and members of the Arrowood and Strickland families were waiting for the trial to start.
The recanted testimony "undermined" the state's case, according to assistant state attorney John Weed, prompting a reassessment of how to proceed.
Weed told WTXL that there was enough evidence to continue with the charge of "dealing in stolen property," but all other charges -- including first degree murder while armed, burglary while armed, and possession of firearm or electric weapon by felon -- were dropped as part of what's called an "open plea."
Weed said the state argued for the maximum sentence for the remaining charge, which would be 15 years. However, due to Rodney Whiddon's status as a "habitual felony offender," the maximum sentence was doubled to a total of 30 years by the judge.
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Lisa Arrowood, Garrett's mother and Strickland's sister, characterized the sequence of Tuesday's events as "crazy."
"This should automatically give our son a new trial," she said. "I mean, it calls everything that they have done into question."
"It should all come back," added her husband Danny, referring to Manden Whiddon's recanted testimony. "He told lies the whole time, and what are they going to do now? Are they going to take back that 15 years? What are they going to do?"
"We want to know who did this, who took Shelly from us, and we want justice," Lisa said. "I am 100 percent convinced that Garrett did not do this."
The Arrowoods say the Whiddons have some role in Strickland's death.
"I'm not sure to what extent Rodney was involved," Lisa said. "I would've liked to have heard all of the evidence at trial to be able to make a full decision on that. If he was involved, he got off lightly with 30 years. If he did shoot my sister -- if he was there -- he got off light with 30 years."
Assistant state attorney John Weed said it's possible Manden Whiddon could face up to life in prison, depending on if a judge rules he violated the terms of his plea.
Meanwhile, the Arrowoods continue to follow every development in Strickland's death.
"This is sadly what we live and breathe and think on a daily basis," Lisa said. "We miss Shelly terribly."
The state attorney's office has requested a hearing next month to determine whether Manden Whiddon will be re-sentenced.
