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Death Penalty Sought For Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend’s Nephews In 'Especially Heinous' Crime
Mark Wilson Jr. is accused of killing his girlfriend's nephews after their mother let him stay on her property to avoid being homeless.
Florida prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a man accused of killing his girlfriend’s nephews after the boys' mother let them crash on her property.
Mark Wilson Jr., 30, was indicted on Tuesday on two counts of first-degree murder for the brutal August killings of 14-year-old Tayten Baker and 12-year-old Robert Baker, local outlet WCJB reports.
Prosecutors made it clear they think the punishment for the slayings should be death.
“If there was ever a case for the death penalty, this is the one,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said during a press conference this week, according to WCJB. He called the murders “especially heinous, atrocious and cruel” and said they were “committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner.”
Wilson allegedly murdered the two boys as their mother — who let him and his girlfriend, her sister, stay on their Melrose property so they wouldn't be homeless — as she slept, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office stated in August. Wilson and his girlfriend were staying in a shed near the home when he allegedly bashed the boys' heads with a hammer and severed their throats with knives.
Wilson allegedly told an unnamed witness that he and his girlfriend planned to kill the “entire family," a warrant stated. Wilson allegedly intended for the boys’ mother and a 4-year-old boy to die as well, despite her acts of kindness toward him and his girlfriend.
Wilson’s girlfriend has not been charged with any crime.
"The Baker family did a lot to help these two individuals, but Wilson was a threat to those around him and unfortunately Robert and Tayten were the ones who suffered whatever was going through Wilson's twisted agenda," Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach said in August. He referred to Wilson as a “sick monster” in another statement.
DeLoach told PEOPLE he believes Wilson was on a days-long methamphetamine bender at the time of the murders.
In addition to the murder charges, Wilson was also indicted on burglary with a battery and burglary while armed charges.
Larizza said during this week’s press conference that he consulted with the boys’ family before making the decision to pursue the death penalty.
“I can tell you it was not a difficult decision to make,” he said.
