ORLANDO, Fla. — A public dispute has emerged between Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell over the juvenile criminal history of the 17-year-old accused in the DeLand double homicide that left two teenagers dead.
In a statement released Thursday, Chitwood said the suspect, identified as Keyan Rundell, had received “years of second chances, dropped charges, and lack of prosecution” before being arrested in connection with the killings.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood shared this statement on social media:
Chitwood listed a series of prior allegations dating back to 2021, including aggravated battery, assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, battery, criminal mischief, vehicle theft, trespassing, drug possession, and resisting an officer.
He said those cases were either dropped, not filed, dismissed, or resolved through probation.
“Before his latest and worst criminal act, Keyan Rundell was in a diversion program for drug possession and disturbing a school function,” Chitwood said. “Now two young men are gone forever and Keyan is facing 2 counts of second-degree murder.”
Chitwood questioned whether earlier intervention and accountability could have changed the outcome.
“If our justice system held little Keyan accountable from the start, maybe things would have turned out different,” he said. “Guess we’ll never know.”
Orange County Sheriff John Mina also took to social media to comment on the situation:
Worrell, whose office oversees prosecutions in Orange and Osceola counties, responded Thursday, saying Chitwood’s comments relied on incomplete information and criticizing what she called “political rhetoric” surrounding the tragedy.
“Our hearts are with the families of the two young men whose lives were tragically taken,” Worrell said. “Their loved ones deserve answers, and our community deserves a juvenile justice system that works to prevent these senseless acts of violence before they occur instead of partisan political rhetoric and misinformation.”
Worrell said the most recent case referenced by Chitwood did not occur in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which includes Orange and Osceola counties, but instead occurred in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, which includes Volusia County.
She also noted that juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Florida law, limiting what prosecutors can publicly discuss about individual juvenile cases.
“Prosecutors do not determine sentencing outcomes in juvenile cases,” Worrell said. “Dispositions are ultimately determined by the Court, with recommendations and involvement from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.”
Worrell defended prosecutors’ decisions, saying charges are based on evidence available at the time and that cases cannot move forward when evidence is insufficient.
“The State Attorney’s Office cannot ethically or lawfully pursue charges when the available evidence is insufficient to support prosecution,” she said. “We cannot manufacture outcomes to fit a political agenda.”
Worrell said the case highlights broader concerns about juvenile intervention, noting that the teen’s interactions with the criminal justice system began at age 12.
“Accountability matters, but so does intervention before a child’s behavior escalates to the point that lives are lost,” Worrell said.
The 17-year-old is currently facing two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of two teenagers in DeLand. The investigation and criminal proceedings remain ongoing.
Worrell is planning to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. to discuss the issues.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier released a statement on social media:
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