Suspect Was On House Arrest When Murder Was Committed
JACKSONVILLE – Derrick Ford, 17, has been officially charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery in the brutal killing of Rhodes Furniture employee Marty Mills.
The case has brought an outpouring of support from the community into the office of the state attorney.
"I have gotten more letters who cared about this victim from family, friends and co-workers than any other homicide I've ever worked," assistant state attorney Jay Taylor said. "The care and injury this homicide caused to the community is substantial."
Juvenile records obtained by Channel 4 show that the crime was not Ford's (pictured, right) first offense. He had a history of charges against him, including drugs, auto theft and sexual battery.
In two cases last August, police reports show that he admitted to one of the crimes. Police say he admitted sexually abusing a 6-year-old. The report goes on to graphically describe multiple assaults on young girls. It's something that the state attorney's office will not discuss.
"Can you talk about what his record prior to this incident might have been?" Channel 4's Brad Puffer said.
"I can't discuss the presence or the absence of any juvenile record," Taylor (pictured, left) said.
Channel 4 spoke with Judge John Skinner, who heard the sexual assault case. He said that Ford was initially detained in a secure facility but in November was released to home arrest under his father's supervision.
Skinner, who would not speak on camera, said that a shortage of beds in the juvenile facility and confidence that Ford would soon receive therapy led to the decision.
Police found Ford driving Marty Mill's pickup truck just hours after the murder, and his home monitoring bracelet was gone.
In another development, Taylor said that there may be another suspect in this murder. He would not say why they believe that there is another suspect or if they know who the suspect could be, but he said that the person remains at large and is asking the public to call police if you have any information.
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The case has brought an outpouring of support from the community into the office of the state attorney.
"I have gotten more letters who cared about this victim from family, friends and co-workers than any other homicide I've ever worked," assistant state attorney Jay Taylor said. "The care and injury this homicide caused to the community is substantial."
Juvenile records obtained by Channel 4 show that the crime was not Ford's (pictured, right) first offense. He had a history of charges against him, including drugs, auto theft and sexual battery.
In two cases last August, police reports show that he admitted to one of the crimes. Police say he admitted sexually abusing a 6-year-old. The report goes on to graphically describe multiple assaults on young girls. It's something that the state attorney's office will not discuss.
"Can you talk about what his record prior to this incident might have been?" Channel 4's Brad Puffer said.
"I can't discuss the presence or the absence of any juvenile record," Taylor (pictured, left) said.
Channel 4 spoke with Judge John Skinner, who heard the sexual assault case. He said that Ford was initially detained in a secure facility but in November was released to home arrest under his father's supervision.
Skinner, who would not speak on camera, said that a shortage of beds in the juvenile facility and confidence that Ford would soon receive therapy led to the decision.
Police found Ford driving Marty Mill's pickup truck just hours after the murder, and his home monitoring bracelet was gone.
In another development, Taylor said that there may be another suspect in this murder. He would not say why they believe that there is another suspect or if they know who the suspect could be, but he said that the person remains at large and is asking the public to call police if you have any information.