THE DARK SIDE OF FLORIDA
Shanda Merritt
#X06378
photo courtesy FDC
Full Name: Shanda Nedreia Merritt
Aliases: "Leeto LaMarkq Allen," "Cocoa," "Kizzy Wheeler"
Date of birth: October 4, 1976
Conviction: 1st-degree murder
County: Duval
City: Jacksonville
Current Location: Lowell Annex
Partners in crime: Raymond Austin Jr., Corey Harrington, Marquavious Avery
Date of Crime: October 25, 2010
Tentative discharge date: Life
Victim(s): Charles R. Soukup
Aliases: "Leeto LaMarkq Allen," "Cocoa," "Kizzy Wheeler"
Date of birth: October 4, 1976
Conviction: 1st-degree murder
County: Duval
City: Jacksonville
Current Location: Lowell Annex
Partners in crime: Raymond Austin Jr., Corey Harrington, Marquavious Avery
Date of Crime: October 25, 2010
Tentative discharge date: Life
Victim(s): Charles R. Soukup
A 19-year-old teen was sentenced to life after being found guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping and armed robbery. Authorities said that Raymond Matthew Austin Jr., along with 36-year-old Shanda Nedreia Merritt, 19-year-old Corey Harrington and 19-year-old Marquavious Avery, strangled and shot 83-year-old Charles R. Soukup during a carjacking on October 25, 2010, before dumping his body in a nearby wooded area.
Charles, who lived in the Northwood Pines subdivision in Gainesville at the time he made the trip to Jacksonville. He was trying to get to Ohio to see his ailing twin brother and had rented a Jeep at the Jacksonville airport. He was planning to drive back to Gainesville after growing tired of waiting to get on a standby flight. Authorities said Charles was killed by Raymond, who stole the rented Jeep.
Charles’ body was recovered near the airport in the 1600 block of Owens Road, the same place where investigators said it appeared Charles was killed and the Jeep was stolen. Charles’ son-in-law had dropped him off at the airport at about 6:30 a.m. that day. Charles then planned to fly standby to Dallas to meet his daughter. After spending a night in Dallas, Charles and his daughter planned to fly to Cleveland together to see Charles’ only living sibling – his fraternal twin, Harry. Unable to get a seat on the plane in Jacksonville, Charles rented a Jeep at the airport at around 11 a.m. He told the rental agent he was returning to his Gainesville home.
Shanda pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Corey and Marquavious pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Raymond was found guilty of first-degree murder by jury and sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Charles, who lived in the Northwood Pines subdivision in Gainesville at the time he made the trip to Jacksonville. He was trying to get to Ohio to see his ailing twin brother and had rented a Jeep at the Jacksonville airport. He was planning to drive back to Gainesville after growing tired of waiting to get on a standby flight. Authorities said Charles was killed by Raymond, who stole the rented Jeep.
Charles’ body was recovered near the airport in the 1600 block of Owens Road, the same place where investigators said it appeared Charles was killed and the Jeep was stolen. Charles’ son-in-law had dropped him off at the airport at about 6:30 a.m. that day. Charles then planned to fly standby to Dallas to meet his daughter. After spending a night in Dallas, Charles and his daughter planned to fly to Cleveland together to see Charles’ only living sibling – his fraternal twin, Harry. Unable to get a seat on the plane in Jacksonville, Charles rented a Jeep at the airport at around 11 a.m. He told the rental agent he was returning to his Gainesville home.
Shanda pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Corey and Marquavious pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Raymond was found guilty of first-degree murder by jury and sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Source: The Gainesville Sun