Local

Pastor finds church member dead in Orlando home; 2nd body found across street

A man was arrested in connection with two homicides that happened on the same street in Orlando, police said.
Jimmy Merritt, 37, was arrested Wednesday on charges of first-degree murder with a firearm, investigators said. 
Merritt faced a judge Thursday, and was denied bail. 
Benny Hallmark, 64, was found shot to death last Friday at his home on Lauressa Lane. Five days later, a decomposed body was found across the street from Hallmark’s home.
Investigators said Hallmark’s pastor found him dead in his reclining chair in his living room.
Interactive map: Orlando 2017 homicides

ORLANDO, Fla. — "It wasn't like Benny not to show up, and then when I called there was no answer," Pastor Scott Patz said. "It's very shocking and very difficult to deal with."

"He always gave everybody a hug, and he would not sit down and take his seat, and it was always a hug, and always, 'I love you,'" said church member Sheryl Lash.
Police said Merritt used Hallmark's checks. Police also said that Merritt admitted to a witness that he killed another person.
Investigators said the witness told them that Merritt buried that person in a back yard of a home on Lauressa Lane, where detectives found the decomposed body wrapped in plastic and a blanket under large pile of wood and tools from the garage.
Deputies announced Thursday the body is Billy Deaton, who Merritt lived with and was reported missing.
Merritt is also being held on forgery and grand theft charges because officers said they captured him on camera cashing a forged check belonging to Hallmark.

Cox Media Group

Most Read