Coral Springs man convicted in 2011 murder of restaurant worker

A Coral Springs man was found guilty Wednesday of the 2011 killing of a restaurant worker whose body was surrounded by enough blood for investigators to piece together who committed the offense.

Kadian Andre Garfield Roper, 43, will learn his fate May 1, when Broward Circuit Judge Tim Bailey imposes his sentence. Life in prison is possible but not mandatory for the second-degree murder conviction. Bailey ordered a pre-sentencing investigation to determine the fairest possible sentence.

Roper told investigators after his arrest in 2017 that he and his friend, Jason Martinez, had planned to commit a burglary at the home of a woman who was a suspected marijuana dealer on July 11, 2011. When they broke in, they were surprised to see Michael Todd Hamilton at home and ready to fight.

Most of the blood at the scene belonged to the victim, but police found two samples that did not belong to him. One sample matched Martinez, while the other matched Roper, jurors were told.

Martinez was convicted last year and is serving a life sentence.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.