Sources: Teens killed & burned over $500 drug debt

WINTER PARK, Fla. — Sources close to the case confirm to WFTV that two Winter Park High School students whose bodies were found burning on Cady Way Trail were killed over a $500 drug debt.

Officials said the bodies of the two teens, Nicholas Presha, 16, and Jeremy Stewart, 18, were found burning early Sunday morning by a jogger, between Metric Drive and Forsyth Road.

Students at Winter Park High School told WFTV that both students were juniors, and they were not known to be troublemakers.

"I was really surprised, because I found out from one of my friends," said Winter Park High School student Sean Gutmacher.

Investigators said they are looking for a motive, and they still need information that will lead them to a breaking piece of evidence to solve the crime.

Friends said Presha and Stewart were inseparable.

Officials released the 911 calls from the day of the deadly incident.

"Um, I can't tell if this is two mannequins or two people burning," said a 911 caller.

Nicholas Presha's father, Bernie Presha, is a detective for the Orange County State Attorney's Office and used to be a deputy for the sheriff's office.

Shavana Wood was Persha's friend and said she left school early because the loss was too much to bear.

"Me and Nick, we were like this, we were just best friends. We did everything together," Wood said.

Sources close to the investigation said the teenagers were shot in the head execution-style, with their hands bound behind their backs.

"I can't imagine someone burning someone else's kids, you know, how are you going to shoot someone and burn them right after?" Wood said.

Investigators wouldn't confirm there was a shooting or if it happened at the Sun Bay apartment complex, not far from Cady Way Trail. However, they did reveal someone tried to burn evidence at the apartment complex.

"It appears to be isolated, but again, that's why it's so important for the community if they have any information, if there is any students out there," said Capt. Angela Nieves of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

The reward for information that leads to an arrest is $5,000, and Jeremy Stewart's mother is working to boost that reward, WFTV learned.

School officials said they have grief counselors at the school. The tragedy forced Winter Park High School to cancel its FCAT testing on Thursday.

WFTV