Ethan Cartwright was sentenced this afternoon to two consecutive life sentences for the murders of two women in Lee County. He was convicted in June, on two counts of Second-Degree Murder with a Firearm. He was also convicted of Shooting at/into a Dwelling or Building and sentenced to 40 years in prison for that count. The defendant was sentenced to the maximum possible sentence the law allows on those charges.
Assistant State Attorney Brenda Wade of the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit and Assistant State Attorney Leena Marcos prosecuted the case.
The crime happened in November 2021, when Cartwright fired two shots and killed a woman inside of a home in San Carlos Park. A second woman, who had been standing outside of the front door of the house, heard the gunshots and started running down the front walk, screaming for help.
The defendant sprinted out of the house, chasing her down, shooting at her as she fled. He shot her four times, killing her. The shooting was caught on surveillance cameras from the victim’s home and was part of the evidence at trial.
During this chaotic scene, there were two children inside of the house. They went to a neighbor’s house and were unharmed.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. Cartwright had barricaded himself in the home. Following negotiations with the SWAT Team, he surrendered, and was taken into custody.
After the murders, the defendant texted several people admitting his involvement in the crime.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office, Communications Director