In an unusual move, Ronnie Hyde told Judge Tatiana Salvador that he was ready to be sentenced immediately as Fred Laster’s five brothers watched from the front row. They had left a place open for their slain brother. After a tearful statement from Laster’s brother Travis, who recounted all that Freddie’s family had been deprived of since his assassination, Salvador was sentenced to life in prison without parole. “He was dear. He was very much loved. She had a grandmother who, on her deathbed, asked her what had happened to Freddie. He died almost hours later, unknowingly. “We have our brothers and sisters wondering what happened to Freddie,” Travis said. “We lost a future with our brother. We lost a brother we could not call on the weekends and ask, “Hey, did you see the ball game?” We lost a brother, like “Hello, Freddy, did you write a new song?” We like the last one you wrote. “Did you get anything when you were out of town?” one D The family also made the following statement: “We have never lost hope. That has been a long, emotional journey, and we are grateful that there is finally justice for Fred. We miss him a lot and we miss the future we will never have with him. We would like to thank all those who for the last 20+ years have served a role to ensure today’s result. In particular, we would like to thank the Columbia Sheriff’s Office. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Jacksonville Beach Police Department; FBI, Florida Law Enforcement. the Office of the Prosecutor and Prosecutors Alan Mizrahi and Terence Martin; Angela Judah, Agent Abbi Beccaccio; and Detective Jimmy Watson. We love you, Fred. “ After surprising many in court on Thursday when he chose to take a stand to defend himself, Hyde faced a controversial cross-examination on Friday morning by Prosecutor Alan Mizrahi, who spoke to Hyde about the last time he saw Laster. one D Ronnie Hyde convicted of killing 16-year-old Fred Laster, whose shredded remains were found behind a rubbish bin in Lake City Laster’s remains were found in June 1994 behind a trash can at a BP gas station in Columbia County with Hyde’s DNA “all over the trash,” according to Mizrahi. Prosecutors said Hyde and Laster were together the day before the remains were found. Hyde denied this, saying that the last time he saw the teenager was on May 30, 1994, when he jumped out of his car because he did not want to return to his grandmother’s house. Prosecutor: You knew he did not want to go home. However, your testimony is that he got into your car voluntarily. Hyde: Yes. Prosecutor: Should I go home? You told him you would take him home. Hyde: He knew where he was going. Prosecutor: So he’s flying in the middle of nowhere, right? Hyde: It was a very wooded area. one D Prosecutor: After dark? Hyde: Yes, sir, after dark in June. Mizrahi later asked Hyde why he had not called 911 after the teenager jumped out of his vehicle. Hyde: Because it was not an emergency? Prosecutor: Do you think that a 16-year-old who runs alone to the forest is not urgent? Hyde: No, sir, I do not. Molly Sasso, a lawyer not involved in the case, said Hyde’s statement was indicative. “Why didn’t you do it? Hi there’s someone in trouble. Do you know why you will not address? ” said Sasso. “I think, you know, this is not something you can really condemn someone for, but it certainly gives the jury the impression that, for example, this is not natural behavior.” During the interrogation, Salvador had to stop Mizrahi several times and warned both men to talk to each other repeatedly. He told them to behave better in the courtroom. one D Mizrahi also asked Hyde about a garage sale, and Hyde said it was time for Laster to disappear. Hyde: I finally gave in to him because he refused to go back to his grandmother’s house, sleep well and work in selling the garage and that would make him feel better. Prosecutor: The sale of a garage is not on your calendar. Hyde: But that does not mean I did not. Hyde maintained his innocence throughout, saying: “Sir. Mizrahi, I never hurt this boy. I have never hurt him. I would never hurt him.” Hyde’s cousin took the plunge Thursday, reading from diary entries where Hyde apologized to Luster. When asked why he would like forgiveness from Laster, Hyde said on Thursday … Hyde: Maybe I did not try hard enough to figure out why he went to Heron… and what was so… what was so urgent about leaving the area. Defense attorney: Do you know anything more than what you told us about Fred Laster’s death? one D Hyde: No, I do not. Defense attorney: Would you ever hurt this child? Hyde: Oh, no… never. I could not.” Hyde said after Luster jumped out of his car in 1994 that he went home and saw a family member, Travis – Laster’s brother – the next morning, and said he told Travis what had happened. It was also revealed in court Thursday that Hyde had declared Luster a dependent foster child – in the years following Luster’s disappearance. Mizrahi fired Hyde at that spot at the kiosk on Friday, saying he lied to the federal government, which Hyde denied. During the final hearings, one of Hyde’s defense lawyers said there was no conclusive evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Hyde was responsible for Luster’s murder. He talked about how Luster was a lost, vulnerable boy – and given his marital status – it was reasonable to believe Hyde’s story of jumping out of his car and running away. He said the trial had “a lot to do for nothing”. one D “I want to be clear, Fred Laster’s death was horrific, but the evidence against Ronnie Hyde simply does not exist. The proof is that Ron Hyde did nothing wrong. “Nothing,” he told the jury. “The state has made a fuss with stickers and knives. “It’s all things I could take to my grandmother’s house right now, and there’s a lot I can do about it, and it’s because Ron Hyde is innocent.” The jurors disagreed, returning a few hours later with a guilty one.
Tragic evidence
Earlier in the week, prosecutors presented key evidence through bleak testimonies that they said showed the former pastor and counselor’s guilt. The jury was shown footage from the crime scene and a look at physical items such as knives, a black plastic bag, a bloody bed pillow, a red flannel shirt, orange gloves with Laster DNA and sticks commonly used on the bottom of a bathtub. Prosecutors say the DNA from the red shirt matched Hyde. one D When asked about some of the items found at the crime scene, including the red T-shirt with his DNA, Hyde testified that his father had similar shirts and may have given them to Laster at some point. He also talked about layers of egg cages – such as the one soaked in blood found at the crime scene. Hyde said he gave Laster one to use for camping. During his closing remarks, Mizrahi said, “DNA has no bias. He has no agenda “and that Hyde is” all over the rubbish bin “. Also among the state’s gruesome evidence photos were photos of Laster’s upper body found 27 years and 10 months ago in a trash can at a BP gas station in Lake City. Brian Retz was a detective for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at the time. “The head was amputated, the arms were amputated, both legs were amputated, so it was just the torso,” Rets said. one D Mizrahi said it was difficult to hear these details. “The shock and worrying idea that a person can take a bread knife and see through someone’s throat, wrist, femur – is hard to understand and makes us angry. “It makes us disgusted and it makes it difficult for us to know that we are part of the human race,” Mizrahi said in his closing remarks on Friday. He said the fact that Laster was dismembered showed that he was killed by someone he knew. “You have to protect the identity of the victim because they are connected to you. A random serial killer is not going to care. If Fred Laster is found behind a trash can, guess who they’re talking to? Him! “Said Mizrahi as he pointed to Hyde. RELATED: New photographs of evidence released in the Ronnie Hyde case | Judge allows diary entries and other details in the case of Ronnie Hyde, who was charged with murder in 1994 | The selection of the jurors will begin in the trial of the young pastor accused of the murder, the cutting of a teenager one D Hyde has also been charged with dozens of counts of child pornography. These proceedings are kept separate from the murder case. Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4Jax – All rights reserved.
