Police Profile: Lowell Prison Guard Cody Daniel Lord

Edited Aug 2: Corrected spelling of Lowell.

On May 30, 2025, Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers arrested and charged Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) Lowell Correctional Institute (Lowell) guard Cody Daniel Lord, 34, with one count of kidnapping, one count of child cruelty and six counts of sexual battery against a minor.

Located in Marion County, Lowell is the oldest women's prison in the State of Florida, opening in 1956. The facility houses over 2,000 prisoners, including juveniles.

With multiple guards being arrested for abusing inmates and a federal investigation into systemic sexual abuse, Lowell has a long history of employing criminals.

Lord’s Law Enforcement Background:

A Gainesville native, Lord tried and failed to become a law enforcement officer at several different agencies. He applied for positions at GPD and the Miami Police Department but was not hired, according to his personnel file obtained by GnvInfo.

Lord’s personnel file reveals that he worked as a trainee for the FDOC Reception and Medical Center from October 2022-December 2022, but did not pass the Florida Basic Abilities Test. 

In July 2024, Lord applied for a position at Lowell. He wrote on his application, “I have wanted to be a Correctional Officer for a long time. I would like to be at the Lowell institution because I am a great mentor and would be a wonderful officer. I would love to make a career here at Lowell.”

Lowell accepted Lord’s application. 

Lord’s Criminal Case:

On the night of May 29, 2025, Lord approached the victim and her friend while they were in a hot tub at their apartment complex. Lord asked the girls if he could enter the hot tub with them, saying they "don't have to worry because [he] is a law enforcement officer,” according to the arrest report. The victim and her friend told Lord he could use the hot tub and that they were going to leave soon. 

The arrest report states Lord offered to get his bottle of tequila, and then briefly left and returned with the bottle, along with his FDOC badge. At midnight, the victim’s friend left the pool, leaving her alone with Lord. He then sexually assaulted and raped the victim several times.

After his arrest, Lord told police he frequently “wears his FDOC badge on his hip and lifts his shirts up over the badge to show it off.”

Lord admitted to the sexual offenses, the arrest report states. 

Lord reportedly contradicted himself during his police interrogation, expressing concern over providing alcohol to a minor early in the interview, but later saying he never asked the victim and her friend their age. 

The victim underwent a medical examination, showing that Lord physically injured her, and she identified him in a photo lineup without hesitation.  

GnvInfo obtained video footage of Lord’s first appearance before Judge Sheree Lancaster. Lord's mother showed up and said his behavior was “not in his character” and that she is “really kind of in shock.” Lancaster denied Lord bond due to the State Attorney's Office submitting a motion for pretrial detention.

GnvInfo obtained video of Lord’s pretrial detention hearing, presided over by Judge James Colaw. Assistant State Attorney Pamela Brockway revealed that Lord had a second job at the apartment complex where he raped the victim.

Brockway said that Lord knew the victim was underaged because he showed concern in his police interview about providing alcohol to minors.

Attempting to defend Lord, Public Defender Michelle Smith said, “He was not aware at the time this offense took place that the individual was 17 years of age... which would explain why he was very concerned about having provided alcohol to someone who is underaged. I recognize there are post miranda statements made in the PC mittimus [but] my client denies this being a non consensual activity. I would ask that the court deny the motion for pretrial detention.”

Smith said she understands there is surveillance video but that she hasn’t been provided with any footage. 

“We are relying on the single statement of a 17-year-old young person,” said Smith, attempting to discredit the victim. 

Brockway shot back, “In addition to video and in addition to witnesses who she reported to immediately.” 

Judge Colaw said he finds there is a “substantial probability” Lord committed the offenses he is charged with and granted the State’s pretrial detention motion. 

Sometime after the hearing, Lord ditched the Public Defender’s Office and retained the legal services of Christopher J. Jones, court records show. 

On June 6, 2025, Lowell Warden Shellie Baker dismissed Lord from the FDOC.

GnvInfo submitted a public records request to GPD for body camera footage of Lord’s arrest, and they replied that it’s not currently available because the case is an open investigation. 

GnvInfo submitted an additional public records request to the FDOC for Lord's internal affairs history. They replied that there is one internal affairs case on Lord but no information can be provided because it is an active investigation.

As of this writing, the State Attorney’s Office hasn’t formally filed Lord’s charges. 

This article may be updated as records requests are completed and Lord’s case moves through the court system.