MARION COUNTY, Fla.,None — The accused ringleader of a murder in Marion County appeared in court for the first time on Thursday, where a judge said 18-year-old Michael Bargo could face the death penalty.
IN COURT: See Images INTERVIEW: Teen Girl Talks From Behind Bars AT THE SCENE: Images Of Home, Friends SEE PHOTO: 5-Gallon Paint Bucket WALK: Ely/Soto | Bargo | Wright/Hooper | Havens IMAGES: Teens In Custody | Mug Shots AFFIDAVITS: Bargo | Ely | Havens | Soto | Hooper
Bargo looked frightened as he waited to face the judge. He appeared battered, with a black eye and wounds from his hands all the way down to his feet. It's not clear whether Bargo's injures were from fist fights investigators say he had with the victim, or struggles as the torturous murder was carried out.
When the judge called his name from a video feed, she made it clear how serious the charges against him are.
"Should the state attorney use his discretion, and a panel, a grand jury, to have you indicted for first-degree murder, potentially, you are facing the death penalty. Do you have an attorney, sir?" the judge asked Bargo.
At the same time, investigators said they examined a dumpster where some of Jackson's remains were discarded after he was beaten, shot and burned on Sunday. Officers said Jackson was lured to the house by his ex-girlfriend, Amanda Wright, because her new boyfriend, Bargo, planned to kill him.
As the murder happened inside a Summerfield house, the neighbors across the street said they noticed the commotion and the bonfire, but thought it was a party.
"We just saw a bunch of kids partying. You know, kids will be kids. We didn't expect anything until we started hearing some shots. Then we were a little concerned here," neighbor DJ Vialig said.
Still, the neighbors convinced themselves that they were only hearing firecrackers.
"The bonfire and just everything that was going on, but, like I said, I was going to work. I didn't think anything," Vialig said. "Something like that, from what I read this morning, that was unreal. I feel so bad for his parents."
On Tuesday night, deputies arrested Bargo, Wright, 18-year-old Charlie Kay Ely, 20-year-old Justin Soto, and 16-year-old Kyle Hooper, who is Wright's brother, and charged them with first-degree murder. Image: Seath Jackson Facebook #2 04/21/11 Seath Jackson
Wright's stepfather, 37-year-old James Havens, was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Officers said Havens helped dispose of Jackson's body. Havens was released on a $10,000 bond on Wednesday morning, according to the sheriff's office.
On Thursday, Ely gave a jailhouse interview to GTN (interview) .
"I'm sorry. I am really not a bad person," Ely said tearfully. "I'm married, I'm 18 ... I don't deserve this."
Ely claims she was forced to be involved in the brutal incident.
"They said I'd be killed and that it wasn't just a threat. It was a gun pointed at my face and everything," she said.
Bargo was denied bond, as were the other four youths charged in the murder. They appeared in court on Wednesday. They've all been ordered to have no contact with each other.
Previous Stories: April 20, 2011: Search Continues For Teen's Remains After Brutal Slaying April 20, 2011: Deputies: Teen's Body Stuffed In Sleeping Bag, Burned
WFTV
