THE DARK SIDE OF FLORIDA
Charles Pandolfo
#H44782
Full Name: Charles Warren Pandolfo
Date of birth: March 5, 1993
Conviction: 2nd-degree murder
County: Polk
City: Davenport
Current Location: Walton Correctional Institution
Partners in crime: Alex Baez
Date of crime: November 6, 2012
Tentative discharge date: March 20, 2035
Victim(s): Jose Santos
Date of birth: March 5, 1993
Conviction: 2nd-degree murder
County: Polk
City: Davenport
Current Location: Walton Correctional Institution
Partners in crime: Alex Baez
Date of crime: November 6, 2012
Tentative discharge date: March 20, 2035
Victim(s): Jose Santos
Alex Baez was charged with first-degree murder for killing Jose Santos, 21, on November 7, 2012. Jose’s body was found in a shallow grave in a Davenport orange grove near Belvoir Drive. He had a single gunshot wound to the back of his head. Jose was last seen walking into a grove with another person in the predawn hours of November 7.
Based on witness information and other evidence, detectives determined that Alex was responsible for Jose’s death. On the day of the slaying, Alex told a witness that he had killed Jose “during a drug trip,” and that “he could not sleep because he could still hear him screaming.”
Another witness who was at Alex’s house a few days after the killing to buy marijuana, told detectives that Alex told him he was with another guy, Charles Pandolfo, when Jose was killed. The witness told detectives that, according to Alex, he and Charles dug a hole in the grove before luring Jose out of his house. “When the victim arrived at the pre-dug hole; Alex shot him with a handgun.”
Officers never recovered the murder weapon so it could not be absolutely determined who pulled the trigger. Charles pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a sentence of 22 years. Alex was found guilty by jury and sentenced to life in prison.
Based on witness information and other evidence, detectives determined that Alex was responsible for Jose’s death. On the day of the slaying, Alex told a witness that he had killed Jose “during a drug trip,” and that “he could not sleep because he could still hear him screaming.”
Another witness who was at Alex’s house a few days after the killing to buy marijuana, told detectives that Alex told him he was with another guy, Charles Pandolfo, when Jose was killed. The witness told detectives that, according to Alex, he and Charles dug a hole in the grove before luring Jose out of his house. “When the victim arrived at the pre-dug hole; Alex shot him with a handgun.”
Officers never recovered the murder weapon so it could not be absolutely determined who pulled the trigger. Charles pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a sentence of 22 years. Alex was found guilty by jury and sentenced to life in prison.
