DAYTONA BEACH -- Police said the stabbing death of a 16-year-old South Daytona girl behind the Daytona Beach Bandshell early Sunday was a case of the wrong place, wrong time and wrong group of friends.
Munsch
North
Beck
Mobbs
Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood, backed by a dozen investigators during a press conference Sunday afternoon, announced the arrest of three South Daytona gang members for what he called the "cowardly, despicable, and sickening" murder of Robyn Munsch.
Munsch was pronounced dead at the scene just before 1 a.m. from a single stab wound that pierced her breast bone, the chief said.
Chitwood said investigators have charged Raymond North, 23, with premeditated first-degree murder. The chief said North, a "certified" member of the Crips gang, plunged a switchblade knife into Munsch's chest during a melee involving six to eight people just after midnight Saturday.
North also is accused of stabbing 22-year-old Desiree Juras and Jordan Hess, 18, both of South Daytona. They were treated at Halifax Health Medical Center with wounds not considered life-threatening.
Also arrested Sunday were Carl Beck, 20, and Dallas Mobbs, 20, as accessories after the fact for their role in the fight, Chitwood said. That included helping North escape from the scene.
The chief said all the people involved knew each other and some were at a party in Holly Hill on Saturday night. The fatal fight was sparked by a back and forth of text messages between Hess and a 19-year-old, Dustin Lind, about an unidentified juvenile girl. They agreed to meet behind the Bandshell at 70 N. Ocean Ave. to settle their issues.
"It is hard to believe a 16-year-old girl goes to a party then loses her life on the Boardwalk," Chitwood said.
Chitwood said investigators suspect North, Beck and Mobbs did not attend the party but showed up at the Bandshell to back up Lind as he defended himself against the perceived disrespect shown by Hess.
Beck was armed with a .380-caliber pistol, which he displayed but did not fire, and North had a switchblade knife, police said. The murder weapon was recovered at the scene.
The stabbings occurred as the victims were apparently beating Lind, the chief said.
After the attack, the suspects went back to their South Daytona apartment to coordinate a story to tell police. Chitwood said the three threatened witnesses with violence if they spoke about the fight.
He said while the stabbings were not specifically gang-related, the chief believes North, Mobbs and Beck, took the situation as an "opportunity to show how violent they are." Police said all three are affiliated with the Crips gang, considered one of the largest and most violent street gangs in the U.S.,
However, the first thing they did when confronted by officers at that their Bristol Bay apartment was to ask for their mothers, Chitwood said.
"A 20-year-old snuffs out someone's life and then is crying for his mommy," Chitwood said. "That is how tough they are."
All three suspects have several felony criminal arrests, Chitwood said.
"Beck just got out of jail four to six weeks ago for (what) I believe was identity theft," Chitwood said.
Records show Beck served two years in state prison for purse snatching, grand theft, credit card fraud and trafficking in stolen property.
The chief said his department's investigation is continuing and more charges are expected.
Chitwood said investigators were told Munsch was a "good kid" who has had some tough breaks. The 16-year-old attended Atlantic High School last year but was home-schooled this year. Her father died last year and her brother returned from Iraq wounded, and is currently being treated for his wounds.
A family friend, who declined to give his name, echoed the chief's description.
"She had a heart of gold," the man said while standing outside Munsch's grandmother's South Daytona home. "She would never do anything to hurt anybody and loved her pets and her family."
-- Staff Writer Kenya Woodard contributed to this report.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood, backed by a dozen investigators during a press conference Sunday afternoon, announced the arrest of three South Daytona gang members for what he called the "cowardly, despicable, and sickening" murder of Robyn Munsch.
Munsch was pronounced dead at the scene just before 1 a.m. from a single stab wound that pierced her breast bone, the chief said.
Chitwood said investigators have charged Raymond North, 23, with premeditated first-degree murder. The chief said North, a "certified" member of the Crips gang, plunged a switchblade knife into Munsch's chest during a melee involving six to eight people just after midnight Saturday.
North also is accused of stabbing 22-year-old Desiree Juras and Jordan Hess, 18, both of South Daytona. They were treated at Halifax Health Medical Center with wounds not considered life-threatening.
Also arrested Sunday were Carl Beck, 20, and Dallas Mobbs, 20, as accessories after the fact for their role in the fight, Chitwood said. That included helping North escape from the scene.
The chief said all the people involved knew each other and some were at a party in Holly Hill on Saturday night. The fatal fight was sparked by a back and forth of text messages between Hess and a 19-year-old, Dustin Lind, about an unidentified juvenile girl. They agreed to meet behind the Bandshell at 70 N. Ocean Ave. to settle their issues.
"It is hard to believe a 16-year-old girl goes to a party then loses her life on the Boardwalk," Chitwood said.
Chitwood said investigators suspect North, Beck and Mobbs did not attend the party but showed up at the Bandshell to back up Lind as he defended himself against the perceived disrespect shown by Hess.
Beck was armed with a .380-caliber pistol, which he displayed but did not fire, and North had a switchblade knife, police said. The murder weapon was recovered at the scene.
The stabbings occurred as the victims were apparently beating Lind, the chief said.
After the attack, the suspects went back to their South Daytona apartment to coordinate a story to tell police. Chitwood said the three threatened witnesses with violence if they spoke about the fight.
He said while the stabbings were not specifically gang-related, the chief believes North, Mobbs and Beck, took the situation as an "opportunity to show how violent they are." Police said all three are affiliated with the Crips gang, considered one of the largest and most violent street gangs in the U.S.,
However, the first thing they did when confronted by officers at that their Bristol Bay apartment was to ask for their mothers, Chitwood said.
"A 20-year-old snuffs out someone's life and then is crying for his mommy," Chitwood said. "That is how tough they are."
All three suspects have several felony criminal arrests, Chitwood said.
"Beck just got out of jail four to six weeks ago for (what) I believe was identity theft," Chitwood said.
Records show Beck served two years in state prison for purse snatching, grand theft, credit card fraud and trafficking in stolen property.
The chief said his department's investigation is continuing and more charges are expected.
Chitwood said investigators were told Munsch was a "good kid" who has had some tough breaks. The 16-year-old attended Atlantic High School last year but was home-schooled this year. Her father died last year and her brother returned from Iraq wounded, and is currently being treated for his wounds.
A family friend, who declined to give his name, echoed the chief's description.
"She had a heart of gold," the man said while standing outside Munsch's grandmother's South Daytona home. "She would never do anything to hurt anybody and loved her pets and her family."
-- Staff Writer Kenya Woodard contributed to this report.
1 comment:
At least your account of the evening was closer than most but it's still wrong. Some innocent people are being charged in the eyes of their peers when they did nothing wrong. YES they did chose BAD friends but they didn't do the crime or even want it to happen. It's very sad for ALL involved.
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