The Sixth District Court of Appeals has affirmed the sentence of Dexter Leonard Thomas who committed a deadly home invasion in Lee County. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2023 for First-Degree Murder and First-Degree Burglary with Assault or Battery with a Firearm. He was also sentenced to 30 years in prison for Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Burglary.
The State Attorney’s Office Cold Case Homicide Unit in partnership with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the crime leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Assistant State Attorney Dan Feinberg, of the Cold Case Homicide Unit, and Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Royal, County Court Chief, prosecuted the case.
The crime happened on February 21, 2015. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a woman who stated that someone had entered her Lehigh Acres home and shot a person. She was not sure if the attacker was still in the house but was hiding under a bed.
Deputies immediately responded to the home; no suspect was inside. In the master bedroom, they found the victim who had been shot. The victim died a short time later. Five juveniles who resided there were also at home. They were all unharmed.
The defendant had broken into the home and demanded money, prior to committing the murder. Two co-defendants were part of setting up the robbery and one was the look out.
The defendant and one co-defendant were identified through advances in both fingerprint and DNA technology which helped solve this cold case.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director