ORLANDO, Fla.,None — Three people have now been charged with murder after a cab driver was found dead inside his Yellow Cab Company taxi early Friday morning, according to Orlando police. The victim was identified Friday afternoon as 35-year-old Mathew Manolas.
MUG SHOTS: Three Suspects In Custody RAW VIDEO: Suspect Being Escorted To Car AT THE SCENE: Images Of Taxi, Investigators 1/14 MURDER: Surveillance Pics Of Suspect In Cab CRIME REPORTS: Map Crimes In Your Neighborhood
Manolas is the latest Mears cab driver to be murdered on the job in Orlando. Manolas' body was found in his Yellow Cab Company taxi around 3:15 Friday morning. Yellow Cab Company is owned by Mears.
Orlando police cruisers blocked the road and crime scene techs scoured the area for hours on Lake Highland Drive next to Lake Highland Preparatory School (see map) .
The three suspects, 19-year-old Samuel Jackson, 22-year-old Darrell Davis and 22-year-old Harley McMillan, were transported to Orange County jail and charged with robbery and first degree murder, police said.
"I can tell you a lot of this is good police work and being in the right place at the right time for our patrol units," said Sgt. Barbara Jones of the Orlando Police Department.
Jim Aderholt was Manolas' neighbor and told WFTV he didn't always want to be a cab driver and even tried other jobs. "Last time we saw him, he had his little boy riding on a scooter, an electric scooter around the block," said Aderholt.
The three men are also facing robbery charges for mugging a couple at gunpoint earlier in the morning at Big Tree Park off Thornton Avenue.
Orlando's first murder of the year also involved a cab driver. It happened January 12 at the Governor's Manor Apartments, about seven miles away. Friday's death is the second slaying of a Mears cab driver in nearly two weeks.
Yellow Cab Company is owned by Mears.
Investigators said Friday's murder is not related to the January 12 killing of 42-year-old cab driver Nelvil Joseph.
"This is a different incident, different date, different time. The only common thing is that it is a Mears cab and Mears cab driver," said Sgt. Barbara Jones of the Orlando Police Department.
Former cab driver Frederick Hecker was at the scene of the crime.
"Why would someone target a cab driver?" WFTV reporter Q. McCray asked Hecker.
"Cash, money and, if you ask for change and you flash your money, somebody gives you a 20," Hecker replied. "I feel for these guys. There's a lot of great drivers out here."
A Mears cab driver told WFTV he fears for his life everyday he's on the job, especially recently. He was close friends with Manolas and Nelvil Joseph and he thinks he could be next.
He says local cab drivers have suggested protective dividers be placed in cabs for years, like the ones in New York.
Mears Transportation Group has approximately 600 cabs in its fleet and the driver who didn't want to be identified said not one has protective glass.
"Even the tourists I pick up say, 'Wow you don't have protection between you and the passengers,' so even they know it," he said.
He said management told him dividers would take away from the tourists' experience in Central Florida.
Meanwhile, the three suspects will have their first appearances before a judge Saturday morning.
Previous Stories: January 14, 2011: Cops: Suspected Cabbie Killer In Police Custody January 14, 2011: Images Released Of Suspect Wanted In Taxi Cab Murder January 13, 2011: Photos Released Of Suspect In Cabbie's Murder January 12, 2011: Taxi Driver Is Orlando's First Murder Of Year
WFTV
