Brian Hyde, 22, was found guilty as charged this afternoon on four counts of Second Degree Murder for killing his family and a family friend in their Lehigh Acres home in August 2015. The jury deliberated for almost three hours before returning the guilty verdict following the four day trial in Lee County. Hyde faces life in prison when he is sentenced.
Hyde used a machete to murder his aunt Dorla Pitts, 37, her daughter Starlette Pitts, 17, and her daughter’s boyfriend, Michael Deon Kelly Jr., 19. Starlette was 6 months pregnant so our prosecutors added the additional murder charge for her unborn child, Ary.
The victims were found dead in their home after a family friend went to check on them. Hyde was arrested after he was pulled over by law enforcement for driving erratically. He was driving his deceased aunt’s car and had a bag packed in the trunk.
Assistant State Attorneys Andreas Gardiner and Hamid Hunter of our Homicide Unit handled the case. Sentencing is scheduled for June 11th.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
239-533-1125
ssyoen@sao20.org