The state has formally charged a 17-year-old boy as an adult in connection with a May traffic crash that killed a husband and wife in southwest Ocala.
The teen, whose name is withheld by the Star-Banner because of his age, had his first court appearance on June 19. He was at the Marion County Jail and appeared by Zoom in front of County Judge Robert Landt, who was at the Marion County Judicial Center.
The defendant stood at the podium and was told he faces two counts of third-degree murder. The teen told the court he has a private lawyer. He did not know the lawyer’s name.
Assistant State Attorney Carla Grant told the judge her office requested that the defendant be held without bail in part because he also faces gun charges stemming from a 2025 case.
The judge granted the state’s request. The defendant’s next court hearing is 9 a.m. July 21.
Prosecutors said they are charging the teen as an adult because of the nature of the crime and his prior criminal record.
While being held at the jail, the teen will be kept away from adults.
About this case
Ocala Police Department Detective Mark Pfeifer is investigating the May 8 crash, which involved a Mustang and a Ford Explorer at Southwest 67th Avenue and 38th Street.
Police were told that the Mustang, driven by the defendant, was traveling south on 67th Avenue. The Explorer, occupied by Charles and Lynne Duncan, was traveling east on 38th Street.
Police said the Mustang ran the stop sign and slammed into the Ford.
The Duncans were taken to a local hospital, where the man died. He was 77. His wife died several days later, officials said. She was 76.
From his investigation, Pfeifer was told the defendant had arranged a meeting with another individual at the Ocala Sportsplex to buy THC vapes. At the meeting location, police say, the defendant robbed the seller and fled in the Mustang.
The fatal crash happened during that escape, police said.
The state said it lodged third-degree murder charges because the crash happened during the commission of a crime: robbery. The detective was told that the seller was not chasing the defendant. However, he did eventually arrive at the crash site and recovered the stolen THC vapes.
Detectives were unable to interview the defendant after the crash because his mother hired an attorney. Officers said the defendant suffered minor injuries in the crash.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Teen charged with third-degree murder after couple’s crash death
Reporting by Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner | USA TODAY Network
