Five defendants in Volusia County were indicted for first degree murder in the span of a week, as detailed in a release Friday by the office of the State Attorney for Florida’s 7th Judicial Circuit. The murders in question took place over a span of time ranging from September 2023 to July 2024. All defendants have still yet to be convicted of their alleged crimes. John Craiger – Volusia Gold & Pawn Murder The first indictment was of John Craiger, the man suspected of fatally shooting the owner of Volusia Gold & Diamond on International Speedway Blvd. The 83-year-old Craiger allegedly produced a firearm during an argument with the shop’s owner and fired at him. The owner’s son reportedly returned fire, injuring Craiger. He was charged with first degree murder and attempted first degree murder and has been in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail since July 20th. Danitto Simpson – Daytona Apartment Complex Murder The second case involved the indictment of Danitto Simpson, a 26-year-old Daytona Beach who was arrested in March of this year on charges of first degree murder (two counts), aggravated battery on a pregnant person, and of being an illegal immigrant. He’s accused of fatally shooting a man during an argument that occurred outside a Daytona apartment complex in September of last year. A Jamaican national, Simpson was arrested in Pittsburgh and later extradited to Volusia County. Tymone Walker – Fatal Fentanyl Sale Third up was Tymone Walker, a 22-year-old Palm Coast resident who allegedly sold fentanyl to a man resulting in his death by overdose. Walker has been in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail since May 2024. His prior charges are numerous, including possession of cocaine with intent to sell, grand theft of a motor vehicle, tampering in a second degree proceeding, possession of oxycodone, and fleeing or eluding at a high speed. Charles Troutman – Fatal Fentanyl Sale Much like Tymone Walker’s case, Charles Troutman is accused of selling fentanyl to a victim in December 2023, resulting in a fatal overdose. Curiously, little information about Troutman appears to be available in Volusia County jail or court records, with even so much as a mugshot proving hard to come by. Dexter Tolbert – Fatal Fentanyl Sale A third of the five murder indictments for alleged fentanyl sale was against Dexter Tolbert, a 35-year-old resident of Port Orange. In February of this year Tolbert is accused of selling fentanyl to a woman who later used the drugs and died of an overdose. Prior charges against Tolbert include sale of heroin, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of a weapon by a felon, battery, carjacking, armed robbery, attempting to flee a law enforcement vehicle with its lights on, and obstructing an officer without violence.
Multiple Defendents Indicted for Murder in Volusia
