Today in Lee County, defendant Robert Lawrence, was adjudicated guilty and sentenced as a Habitual Felony Offender to 30 years in prison, followed by 3 years of probation, for Second Degree Murder. He was also sentenced to 5 years in prison for Possession of Cocaine and credit time served for Possession of Paraphernalia.
Assistant State Attorney Sara Miller of the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit and Assistant State Attorney Stephanie Russell, Felony Circuit Court Chief, prosecuted the case.
The crime happened in October 2024. The defendant was driving on Colonial Boulevard with the victim in his SUV. The defendant crashed his vehicle and the victim got out and ran, with the defendant in pursuit after him. The defendant then caught up to the victim, pulled his shorts off and grabbed the victim’s cell phone. Witnesses saw it all happen and said the victim was bleeding when he got out of the SUV.
Emergency crews responded immediately, as did the Fort Myers Police Department, who investigated the case. It was determined the victim had been stabbed. He died at the scene.
The defendant fled the scene and was arrested a short time later. The vehicle in the crash was found hidden at his home under a tarp.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director