Sanford double homicide Halloween night remains unsolved, family pleas for help

SANFORD, Fla. — The family of two murder victims made an emotional plea Friday for anyone who could help solve the cases to come forward.

Roland Deloatch and Joseph Smith, who were brothers, were shot by a masked person Halloween night at 207 Hays Drive in Sanford.

“Roland and Joseph were good family members. We adored them. They loved us. They loved their family. They loved their children," said Cathy Wilson, the sister of the victims.

The mother was also inside the home, and the family said during a news conference Friday that she begged for her life and was not harmed.

"The boys were taking care of my mother. They lived with her. They took care of her. This was her support, so when they took those two away from her, they took support away from her. They took a lot away from the family," said Kizzie Spencer, sister of the victims.

"We are never going to let you think that you are never going to be hunted down, because we are never going to let this case rest," Wilson said.

Police announced last year that two persons of interest, Dante James and Shawbetta Seals, may have information about the homicides, but police said Friday that James and Seals are not cooperating with them.

Police said James is not a suspect because he was somewhere else at the time of the shooting, but they do believe he and Seal have information on the shooter.

Police do believe a third person may have information about the killings, but they haven't released that person's name.

"We know that there is a person that claimed to love Joseph and was with him daily. We know that person has valuable information, and we would like that person to come forward and tell them that information that they have," said one of the family members.

This is a developing story. Follow Channel 9's Jeff Levkulich for updates.

Cox Media Group