Posted on 02/13/2017 4:42:19 PM PST by digger48
WINTER HAVEN, FL (WFLA) – Two Florida teens are facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the disturbing murder of a man that detectives say happened during a sexual encounter.
Donald Merkley, 67, was found dead in his house on Jan. 11, after a fire at his home.
Detectives initially believed the fire was caused by a small electric heater, and ruled it accidental.
But, when one of the teens came forward with details about what happened, the fire turned into a murder investigation.
Detectives say Byron Lasiak, 16, of Winter Haven told them that he and Jerry Johnsey, 18, of Auburndale went to Merkley’s home around 4pm on Jan. 10 to have sex with Merkley.
Detectives say that Johnsey told them he put Merkley in a choke hold during the sexual encounter. Merkley passed out and then Johnsey hit him in the head with a baseball bat.
The teens then rummaged through Merkley’s house until they found some gas and poured the gas throughout the home and on Merkley. Johnsey took $2.75 off the kitchen counter as the teens left the home.
Detectives say around 10am the next day, Johnsey returned to the home and went inside. He poured more gas on Merkley’s body and throughout the home. Johnsey then lit a match.
Johnsey told detectives that after he set the fire, he called Lasiak and said, “Don’t worry about it. I just torched the place.”
Johnsey later told detectives that he met Merkley on Craigslist and had planned to rob him while at his house.
Johnsey and Lasiak were charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery with a weapon. Johnsey also faces an arson charge.
Neighbors of the victim are in shock over the news. “John was a very friendly guy. He was always talking to people and he would go out of his way for others. Then there was the other side of John that we didn’t know, obviously,” Ron Towns said. “Life is more valuable than just to kill someone. It’s a shame the way it ended.”
A family friend of Lasiak says told News Channel 8 that he is innocent. “He’s innocent. We’ve known him for years. He’s not that kind a kid, he was just at the wrong place the wrong time. They are framing him and making him say things that aren’t true” Nicole Rustin said.
Weird .. but Jihadi’s use burning a lot.
I wonder if Police units are looking into that possible connection to this murder.
“Detectives initially believed the fire was caused by a small electric heater, and ruled it accidental.”
Gasoline poured all over the house and on the body and they ruled it accidental?
If he poured gasoline all over the place twice and then lit it, the pour patterns should be obvious unless it was pier and beam and burned to the dirt.
Ya think?
I didn’t mean to fault you, the so-called reporter should have done its job better. Maybe “Donald” was leading a double life as “John”, but who knows.
So is there anyone in this story that we are supposed to feel any sympathy for?
Well,whether they are happy or not, they are sodomites.
If only the three of them were able to get married, this never would have happened. /s
But seriously, this whole story is disturbing on so many levels.
Johnsey is on the left, correct?
Do you think his accomplice will deny his statement and take the fall himself?
Craigslist would have a record of any ad placed by the man or the teens.
Surprisingly, no, that one is Byron Lasiak the younger one. I would still bet he’s the leader and the other one is the follower.
I was thinking the same thing.
Odd, the one on the left appears about two years older. Maybe it’s the mugshot height scale backdrop. Ya never know!
Yes, he does look like the older one. He looks more serious for one thing. I’m thinking sociopath.
Also odd is the other one is confessing to the heinous acts. But if he is the follower, as I suspect, he may have been talked into committing the violence or he’s being pressured to make the confession. Or a combination of the two.
At any rate, Johnsey looks scared and Lasiak just looks angry.
Couple of old pervs walk into a bar...
Looks can fool. It’s what makes some of them even more dangerous.
men, sorry, I don’t understand you....something has gone wrong in the genetics of American boys and men....this nation is not the nation of my father.....
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