Homeless Cocoa man charged with first-degree murder in death of his grandmother, aunt

COCOA, Fla. — Brevard County deputies have charged a homeless Cocoa man with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his grandmother and aunt.

Deputies said Marty Connell, 41, called 911 Tuesday and said he harmed two people in a home on Eucalyptus Place in the Cedar Lakes subdivision.

"We did get a call from an individual that told us (was) involved in a domestic incident here at the residence and that we needed to come to this residence," Brevard County Sheriff's Office spokesman Tod Goodyear said.

Connell’s grandmother, Maxine Mills, 84, and his aunt, Holly Crossman, 61, were found dead inside the home.

Connell told deputies he is homeless and had previously lived at the home with the victims.

Deputies said there was a history of domestic violence between Connell and Crossman, and an injunction of protection that was issued against Connell in 2011 was still valid.

Neighbor Cecelia Quillen said her husband was home at the time of the deaths and heard aloud bang.

At first, he thought a tree had fallen on the house, she said.

"And he came outside to see what was going on and he heard the commotion going on and a few more loud bangs," Quillen said.

Investigators have not released a cause of death in the case.

Connell told deputies he lives in a homeless camp on State Road 528 and Industry Drive, but Quillen said he came by the house two or three days a week.

"When we would come over, she would come out and sit on the porch and you could see, just steam," Quillen said. "They just didn't get along."

No other details have been released.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.

Stay with wftv.com and follow reporter @MHoltWFTV for updates. 

Cox Media Group