Luis Toledo: Trial begins for Deltona man accused of killing wife, children

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Jury selection began Monday morning in the murder trial of a 35-year-old Deltona man who is accused of killing his wife and her two children.

Luis Toledo's case is being tried in St. Augustine because of the publicity it has received. Some jury candidates told the judge Thursday that they had heard of the trial.

Toledo's wife, Yessenia Suarez, 28, and her children, Thalia Otto, 9, and Michael Otto, 8, disappeared from their Deltona home in October 2013. They have not been found.

Investigators said Toledo confessed to killing Suarez but denied killing her children.

Attorneys for Toledo were opposed to deputies wearing tactical gear in the courtroom because they were concerned it might make Toledo seem dangerous to potential jurors. The deputies changed into regular uniforms.

The judge told potential jurors that he would question them about their views about the death penalty and law enforcement officers.

A juror who said he is a felon was immediately dismissed.

The jury selection process is expected to last several days. The judge told jurors that the trial could take a month.

Cox Media Group