Clay County Jury Recommends Life Sentence for Corey Binderim

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Clay County jury recommended Corey Binderim serve life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2019 murder of Susan Mauldin. The jury recommendation followed the guilty verdict of First-Degree Murder, Burglary, and Tampering with Evidence. The Honorable Steven Whittington will formally sentence Binderim at a later date.

“From the moment Susan Mauldin disappeared, law enforcement and prosecutors worked tirelessly to solve this case. And they did,” said State Attorney Melissa Nelson. “Through incredible work by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and prosecutors Pam Hazel, Ashley Terry, and Dan Skinner, we uncovered the truth of her disappearance – that Corey Binderim murdered Susan Mauldin and threw her in the trash. Significant resources were dedicated to this investigation and prosecution, and we appreciate the jury’s service and verdict.”

On Oct. 25, 2019, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office responded to Susan Mauldin’s Fleming Island home. Mauldin’s friend reported her missing after she had not been heard from or seen in two days despite multiple attempts to reach her. Mauldin’s friend noted during lunch two days prior Mauldin told her about a longstanding issue with her contractor, Binderim. Mauldin paid Binderim $12,000 months earlier to remodel her bathroom. He completed the demolition of the bathroom but then stopped working and gave excuses for months as to why he was unable to complete the work. During the lunch, Mauldin’s friend said she fired Binderim and demanded her money back or she would contact the police and an attorney; Mauldin’s friend said she was told Binderim would return the money on Oct. 23, 2019.

When contacted by the police, Binderim confirmed the dispute and said he went to Mauldin’s house between 8-8:30 a.m. Oct. 24, 2019, and gave her a check for $1,200. He also provided a timeline for his whereabouts during the day. Further investigation revealed Binderim went to a home improvement store just after 7 a.m. Oct. 24, 2019, and purchased contractor demo bags and quick-drying concrete mix. He then went to Mauldin’s home around 8 a.m. Around 8:45 a.m., he deactivated a location-sharing app and, shortly after, arrived at the Rosemary Hill Solid Waste Management facility. Residents and business owners are allowed to dump waste at the facility, and the waste is then transferred to a Georgia landfill. Binderim disposed of 300 pounds of waste and debris.

The investigation revealed Binderim’s bank account did not have enough money to cover the check he claimed he wrote to Mauldin; and they discovered he had been using drugs for months. Days after the search warrant was executed on his home, Binderim went to another client’s home, stole a check, made it out to himself, then vanished. Numerous agencies performed a massive landfill search in January 2020. On the ninth day of the effort, they found Mauldin’s skull and body parts in contractor demo bags. Binderim was arrested and charged with her murder.

The case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and FBI, and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Pam Hazel, Ashley Terry, and Dan Skinner.