Jury Finds Corey Binderim Guilty of Murdering Susan Mauldin

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Clay County jury found Corey Binderim guilty of First-Degree Murder, Burglary, and Tampering with Evidence for the murder of Susan Mauldin. With the verdict, Binderim faces the possibility of death, or life in Florida State Prison. The jury will begin the penalty phase of the trial Oct. 16, 2024, before the Honorable Steven Whittington.

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.; just after 8 a.m. a camera from a passing school bus captured his truck backed into Mauldin’s driveway just before 8:30 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, with the waste then transferred to a Georgia landfill. During this visit, 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 month. 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. Law enforcement was able to isolate the part of the Georgia landfill where Clay County waste was dumped that day and, through the collaboration of numerous agencies, a massive landfill search ensued in January 2020. On the ninth day of the effort, searchers found Mauldin’s skull and body parts in contractor demo bags. Binderim was arrested and charged with Mauldin’s murder.

“The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and prosecutors Pam Hazel, Ashley Terry, and Dan Skinner did incredible work to investigate and successfully prosecute this tragic case,” said State Attorney Melissa Nelson.  

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.