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General Store Murder Suspect To Get New Trial Due To Mistakes

POSTED: 4:29 pm EST November 21, 2007
UPDATED: 5:19 pm EST November 21, 2007

A convicted killer, who spent more than two years on death row, was granted a new trial Wednesday by the Florida Supreme Court. Roy Lee McDuffie was convicted of killing two Dollar General Store clerks in Deltona in 2002.

It happened as the Dollar General Store was closing five years ago and family members are angry. But they're not angry at the justice system; they're angry at McDuffie, the man they still firmly believe brutally killed two women.

"I'm angry. I'm mad that it's come to this. And I'm scared," said Kelli Lee, the sister of one victim.

Kelli Lee got a call from the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday morning, breaking the news that she would have to re-live the trial of Roy Lee McDuffie, the man who was on death row for killing her sister.

"A new trial means we have to see all of the gruesome and hear all of the gruesome stuff again," she said.

It was October 2002 when Lee's sister, Janice Schneider, and her co-worker, Dawnielle Beauregard, didn't come home from work at the Deltona Dollar General Store. Investigators found the women in the back of the store, shot and stabbed, their hands and feet wrapped with duct tape and one piece of tape bore the palm print of McDuffie, a manager in training. Investigators believe his motive was robbery.

A jury convicted McDuffie, but the Florida Supreme Court said there were mistakes in his trail; the judge should have allowed one of his friends to testify, his defense should be have been allowed more cross examination of eyewitnesses and now he will get a new trial.

"It's hard to carry the hatred with you all these years," Lee said.

It is a disappointing turn of events for Lee, who said she's been trying to forgive McDuffie, but won't be able to until he's put away for good.

"It's all over again. It's back on my shoulders again, because I'm going to have to go through this again," Lee said, crying.

The State Attorney's Office told Eyewitness News they are ready to go as soon as a trial date is set. The Florida Supreme Court still believes there is enough evidence to convict McDuffie, so in the meantime he is not getting out of prison.


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