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Morgan Leppert, 15, and Toby Lowry, 22, are charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 66-year-old man found beaten, stabbed and strangled in his Melrose home. VIDEO  Murder Suspect's Brother Says Boyfriend Led Girl Down Path Of DestructionSheriff: Teen, Adult Boyfriend Kill Man, Take Off In His TruckUNCUT: Putnam Sheriff Dean Kelly Talk About Murder Charges |
15-Year-Old Charged As Adult In Man’s Slaying
Teen, Boyfriend Indicted On 1st-Degree Murder Charge
POSTED: 4:41 pm EDT May 22,
2008
UPDATED: 5:42 pm EDT May 22,
2008
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A 15-year-old girl and her 22-year-old boyfriend were indicted on Thursday in the homicide death of a disabled Melrose man.The 2008 Putnam County Spring Grand Jury indicted Morgan Amanda Leppert and Toby Lowry on charges of first-degree murder, burglary with an assault or battery and robbery with a deadly weapon.The Palatka couple is accused of beating 66-year-old James Thomas Stewart with two metal rods, and stabbing the man several times before suffocating him with a plastic bag.
Putnam County deputies said Leppert and Lowry killed Stewart because they wanted to steal his truck."They were looking, basically, something to get into, for a way to get out of the country," said Putnam County Sheriff Dean Kelly. "They stayed in a wooded area behind the victim's home. They just cased the area looking for an easy mark."An Amber Alert was issued for Leppert, and she and Lowry were found in El Paso after a motorist recognized the couple from seeing a national news report and called 911.The stolen 2003 Toyota Tacoma pickup the couple allegedly stole after killing Stewart was found nearby.Despite her age, Leppert is charged as an adult in the slaying.
Copyright 2008 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Previous Stories:
- May 6, 2008: 15-Year-Old Girl, Ex-Con Boyfriend Charged With Murder
- May 5, 2008: 22-Year-Old Under Arrest In Texas; 15-Year-Old Won't Be Charged
- May 3, 2008: Missing Teen, 22-Year-Old Boyfriend In Custody In Texas
- May 2, 2008: Missing Girl Had Slain Man's Number In Her Cell Phone
- May 1, 2008: Investigators Link Amber Alert, Putnam County Homicide
Copyright 2008 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
