Local

Double homicide: Man found dead in Orlando home; decomposing body found in back yard

By Janine Reyes and WFTV Web Staff
By Janine Reyes and WFTV Web Staff
Orlando police are trying to piece together two deaths that happened on the same street.
Police announced the arrest of Jimmy Gray Merritt, 37, on Wednesday.
Investigators were called to a home at 3103 Lauressa Lane last Friday on reports of an unresponsive man, police said. They found Benny Hallmark, 64, shot to death in his reclining chair, police said.
"Benny was on fire for the Lord. That's all he wanted to do was help people," the victim's brother, Larry Vaughn, told Channel 9’s Janine Reyes.
Vaughn said Hallmark ministered to everyone, including the suspect.
Hallmark was active at the Woodhaven Baptist Church. It was the pastor and Hallmark's niece who found him dead because he didn't show up to clean the church Friday morning.
“It wasn’t like Benny not to show up,” said pastor Scott Patz.  
Detectives said Merritt stole and cashed Hallmark's $1,500 check.
Fellow church members are devastated.
“It’s very shocking and very difficult to deal with,” said Patz.
"It was hard for me to accept somebody just taking him away from me that quick," Vaughn said.
While investigating the homicide, detectives learned Tuesday that Meritt told a witness he killed another person at a home at 3008 Lauressa Lane where he lived, investigators said.
Police found a man wrapped in plastic and blankets, under a large pile of wood and tools in the garage.
OPD has not released the name of the victim, but Eyewitness News has learned Merritt lived with Billy Deaton, who has been reported missing.
Interactive map: Orlando 2017 homicides
Merritt faces charges of first-degree murder with a firearm, investigators said. He is being held without bail.

Cox Media Group

0

Most Read