Florida seeks death penalty for man accused of using hammer, knife to kill boys
MELROSE, Fla. – Prosecutors have decided to seek the death penalty in the case of a 30-year-old Florida man accused of killing two teenage brothers in their home over the summer. Officials filed a request notifying the court that they plan to pursue the death penalty against Mark Wilson Jr. after a grand jury indicted him Oct. 20 on two counts of first-degree murder, the Gainesville Sun reported. Wilson is accused of using a hammer and knife to kill 14-year-old Tayten Baker and 12-year-old Robert Baker in their home in August. State Attorney R.J. Larizza said his office consulted with the boys’ family prior to making the decision to seek death for Wilson, the newspaper reported. Wilson was the boyfriend of the boy’s aunt, and the family had allowed them to live in a shed in their backyard, officials said.
Mom wakes up to find her boys dead; ’sick monster’ arrested on murder charges
Putnam County Sheriff H.D. The family had moved from Polk County to Melrose, which is south of Jacksonville, 16 days ago to be closer to family, the sheriff said. “They did a lot to help them and, unfortunately, it ended in the deaths of Robert and Tayten," the sheriff said. The boys' mother and a younger sibling weren't injured in the attacks, the sheriff said. A GoFundMe account set up for the family quickly raised more than $9,000 to help with the boys' funeral expenses.