Daytona Beach, FL - The second man charged in the 2013 murder of 25-year-old Christopher Jemery now knows his sentence.
Wednesday afternoon, a jury sentenced 26-year-old Christian Cruz to death. He was found guilty of all charges in February 2019. His accomplice in the crime, 30-year-old Justen Charles, was sentenced to life in prison on October 30.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza had the following to say about the case: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Victim’s family during this difficult time. The death sentence will not undo the harm and suffering of the Victim and his family, but it does hold the defendant accountable for his vicious and tortuous murder.”
Investigators believe Jemery's death was a case of mistaken identity and that Cruz and Charles had meant to kill a man who had previously lived in the apartment where they killed Jemery. Investigators say that Jemery was found bound, beaten and shot in the head
When a jury found Cruz guilty on all charges earlier this year, they recommended the death penalty to Judge Raul Zambrano.
