Jerone Hunter
Deltona Mass Murder Case
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Deltona, Florida
TIME PERIOD
August 6, 2004
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
On August 6, 2004, a mass murder occurred at a residence on Telford Lane in Deltona, Florida, when four men—Troy Victorino, Jerone Hunter, Robert Cannon, and Michael Salas—broke into the home and bludgeoned six victims to death using baseball bats and a machete. The victims included four men, two women, and a dog, marking this incident as the deadliest mass murder in Volusia County history. The attackers were motivated primarily by revenge against Erin Belanger, who had evicted Victorino and his associates from her grandmother's property, and secondarily by the desire to recover an Xbox game console and clothing left behind. In August 2006, all four perpetrators were found guilty; however, the death sentences for Victorino and Hunter were overturned in June 2017, and they are currently awaiting resentencing as prosecutors plan to seek death penalties again.
The attackers were motivated primarily by revenge against Erin Belanger for evicting Troy Victorino from a property, with a secondary motive of retrieving an Xbox game console. Some believe that the brutal nature of the killings was influenced by the film "Wonderland," which may have inspired the violent actions of the perpetrators. Additionally, there was speculation that Victorino aimed to settle grievances with another individual who was not present at the time of the attack.
The Deltona Massacre: A Dark Chapter in Volusia County's History
In the quiet town of Deltona, Florida, on the fateful night of August 6, 2004, a horrific crime unfolded that would forever be etched into the annals of the community's history. Known as the "Deltona Massacre" or more luridly as the "Xbox Murders," this gruesome event marked the deadliest mass murder in Volusia County's history. Four men—Troy Victorino, Jerone Hunter, Robert Cannon, and Michael Salas—broke into a residence on Telford Lane and unleashed a brutal attack, leaving six people and a dog dead.
Prelude to Violence
The seeds of this atrocity were sown weeks before the massacre. Victorino and Hunter, among others, had been squatting in a vacant house owned by Erin Belanger's grandparents. When Belanger moved to Florida to oversee the property, she discovered the trespassers and had them evicted, boxing up their belongings in the process. This act incensed Victorino, leading him to claim that Belanger had "robbed" him of his possessions, including an Xbox game console.
Victorino's fury was fueled by a perceived slight to his status, as recounted by witnesses who noted his claims of being a gang leader disrespected by Belanger's actions. His anger grew, and in the days leading up to the massacre, he fired a gun near the Telford Lane home, intending to use it in the attack. However, lacking ammunition, the group resorted to collecting baseball bats from neighborhood children.
A chilling encounter at a New Smyrna Beach Wal-Mart two days before the murders hinted at their sinister intentions. A store clerk observed Victorino and his accomplices laughing and handling baseball bats with ominous comments about their potential use as weapons.
The Massacre
On the night of the attack, the perpetrators stormed the house. Inside, Jonathan Gleason was sitting on a recliner when Hunter fatally stabbed him in the neck. Victorino attacked Francisco "Flaco" Ayo-Roman with an aluminum bat, while Hunter beat Tito Gonzalez to death with a bat, stabbing him repeatedly. Erin Belanger was brutally beaten by Victorino, who then sexually abused her body. Anthony Vega was bludgeoned and stabbed in the throat by Victorino in the master bedroom, where Michelle Ann Nathan hid in a closet until Hunter discovered and murdered her. The violence spared no one—not even Belanger's pet dachshund, George, who was stomped to death.
The Judicial Aftermath
The trial for this heinous crime began after two years of preparation, moved to St. Augustine due to concerns over the ability to secure an impartial jury in Volusia County. It set a record with $1.5 million in legal defense fees. In August 2006, the jury found Victorino, Hunter, Cannon, and Salas guilty. Judge William A. Parsons condemned the killings as "conscienceless" and "unnecessarily torturous," sentencing Victorino and Hunter to death by lethal injection. Cannon and Salas were sentenced to life in prison without parole.
However, the saga did not end there. On June 14, 2017, the Florida Supreme Court overturned the death sentences of Victorino and Hunter, citing a need for unanimous jury recommendations in death penalty cases. Both men are currently awaiting resentencing, with prosecutors still seeking the death penalty.
The Victims
The victims, Erin Belanger, Francisco Ayo-Roman, Michelle Ann Nathan, and Anthony Vega, were friends and co-workers at a local Burger King. Jonathan Gleason, although not a resident, was present that fateful night. Tito Gonzalez, another co-worker, was also staying over. Each had their own aspirations and stories: Belanger had moved from Nashua, New Hampshire, to care for her grandmother's home; Ayo-Roman aspired to become a nurse; Vega was a painter and construction worker from The Bronx; Nathan dreamed of marrying Vega; Gonzalez had relocated from Manhattan; and Gleason, a multilingual aspiring volunteer, was known for his intelligence and humor.
The Perpetrators
The attackers shared troubled backgrounds. Troy Victorino, born in Queens, New York, had a history of violence and abuse. Diagnosed with mental disorders, he spent much of his life in and out of prison. Michael Salas, who dropped out of school in ninth grade, grew up in a violent, abusive environment. Jerone Hunter, clinically depressed and mentally ill, was haunted by his twin brother's death at a young age. His parents were committed to mental hospitals at the time of the massacre.
Legislative Response
The massacre prompted legislative changes in Florida. The state introduced a bill, SB-146, addressing probation violations for violent offenders, ensuring that such individuals could not be released without a court hearing to assess their threat to the community.
The Deltona Massacre remains a grim reminder of the capacity for human cruelty and the systemic failures that can contribute to such tragedies. The community continues to grapple with the legacy of that night, as the legal and emotional repercussions linger on.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Deltona Massacre Occurs
Four men break into a home and murder six victims, including a dog, in a brutal attack.
Investigation Begins
Authorities launch an investigation into the mass murder, leading to the identification of suspects.
Trial Verdicts Announced
A jury finds Troy Victorino, Jerone Hunter, Robert Cannon, and Michael Salas guilty of the murders.
Sentencing Phase
Judge sentences Victorino and Hunter to death, while Cannon and Salas receive life sentences.
Death Sentences Overturned
The Florida Supreme Court overturns the death sentences of Victorino and Hunter, requiring new sentencing hearings.
Prosecutors Seek New Sentences
Prosecutors announce intentions to seek death sentences again for Victorino and Hunter following the Supreme Court ruling.
Legislative Response
Florida legislature passes a bill to address probation violators with violent histories following the massacre.
On August 6, 2004, a mass murder occurred at a residence on Telford Lane in Deltona, Florida, when four men—Troy Victorino, Jerone Hunter, Robert Cannon, and Michael Salas—broke into the home and bludgeoned six victims to death using baseball bats and a machete. The victims included four men, two women, and a dog, marking this incident as the deadliest mass murder in Volusia County history. The attackers were motivated primarily by revenge against Erin Belanger, who had evicted Victorino and his associates from her grandmother's property, and secondarily by the desire to recover an Xbox game console and clothing left behind. In August 2006, all four perpetrators were found guilty; however, the death sentences for Victorino and Hunter were overturned in June 2017, and they are currently awaiting resentencing as prosecutors plan to seek death penalties again.
The attackers were motivated primarily by revenge against Erin Belanger for evicting Troy Victorino from a property, with a secondary motive of retrieving an Xbox game console. Some believe that the brutal nature of the killings was influenced by the film "Wonderland," which may have inspired the violent actions of the perpetrators. Additionally, there was speculation that Victorino aimed to settle grievances with another individual who was not present at the time of the attack.
The Deltona Massacre: A Dark Chapter in Volusia County's History
In the quiet town of Deltona, Florida, on the fateful night of August 6, 2004, a horrific crime unfolded that would forever be etched into the annals of the community's history. Known as the "Deltona Massacre" or more luridly as the "Xbox Murders," this gruesome event marked the deadliest mass murder in Volusia County's history. Four men—Troy Victorino, Jerone Hunter, Robert Cannon, and Michael Salas—broke into a residence on Telford Lane and unleashed a brutal attack, leaving six people and a dog dead.
Prelude to Violence
The seeds of this atrocity were sown weeks before the massacre. Victorino and Hunter, among others, had been squatting in a vacant house owned by Erin Belanger's grandparents. When Belanger moved to Florida to oversee the property, she discovered the trespassers and had them evicted, boxing up their belongings in the process. This act incensed Victorino, leading him to claim that Belanger had "robbed" him of his possessions, including an Xbox game console.
Victorino's fury was fueled by a perceived slight to his status, as recounted by witnesses who noted his claims of being a gang leader disrespected by Belanger's actions. His anger grew, and in the days leading up to the massacre, he fired a gun near the Telford Lane home, intending to use it in the attack. However, lacking ammunition, the group resorted to collecting baseball bats from neighborhood children.
A chilling encounter at a New Smyrna Beach Wal-Mart two days before the murders hinted at their sinister intentions. A store clerk observed Victorino and his accomplices laughing and handling baseball bats with ominous comments about their potential use as weapons.
The Massacre
On the night of the attack, the perpetrators stormed the house. Inside, Jonathan Gleason was sitting on a recliner when Hunter fatally stabbed him in the neck. Victorino attacked Francisco "Flaco" Ayo-Roman with an aluminum bat, while Hunter beat Tito Gonzalez to death with a bat, stabbing him repeatedly. Erin Belanger was brutally beaten by Victorino, who then sexually abused her body. Anthony Vega was bludgeoned and stabbed in the throat by Victorino in the master bedroom, where Michelle Ann Nathan hid in a closet until Hunter discovered and murdered her. The violence spared no one—not even Belanger's pet dachshund, George, who was stomped to death.
The Judicial Aftermath
The trial for this heinous crime began after two years of preparation, moved to St. Augustine due to concerns over the ability to secure an impartial jury in Volusia County. It set a record with $1.5 million in legal defense fees. In August 2006, the jury found Victorino, Hunter, Cannon, and Salas guilty. Judge William A. Parsons condemned the killings as "conscienceless" and "unnecessarily torturous," sentencing Victorino and Hunter to death by lethal injection. Cannon and Salas were sentenced to life in prison without parole.
However, the saga did not end there. On June 14, 2017, the Florida Supreme Court overturned the death sentences of Victorino and Hunter, citing a need for unanimous jury recommendations in death penalty cases. Both men are currently awaiting resentencing, with prosecutors still seeking the death penalty.
The Victims
The victims, Erin Belanger, Francisco Ayo-Roman, Michelle Ann Nathan, and Anthony Vega, were friends and co-workers at a local Burger King. Jonathan Gleason, although not a resident, was present that fateful night. Tito Gonzalez, another co-worker, was also staying over. Each had their own aspirations and stories: Belanger had moved from Nashua, New Hampshire, to care for her grandmother's home; Ayo-Roman aspired to become a nurse; Vega was a painter and construction worker from The Bronx; Nathan dreamed of marrying Vega; Gonzalez had relocated from Manhattan; and Gleason, a multilingual aspiring volunteer, was known for his intelligence and humor.
The Perpetrators
The attackers shared troubled backgrounds. Troy Victorino, born in Queens, New York, had a history of violence and abuse. Diagnosed with mental disorders, he spent much of his life in and out of prison. Michael Salas, who dropped out of school in ninth grade, grew up in a violent, abusive environment. Jerone Hunter, clinically depressed and mentally ill, was haunted by his twin brother's death at a young age. His parents were committed to mental hospitals at the time of the massacre.
Legislative Response
The massacre prompted legislative changes in Florida. The state introduced a bill, SB-146, addressing probation violations for violent offenders, ensuring that such individuals could not be released without a court hearing to assess their threat to the community.
The Deltona Massacre remains a grim reminder of the capacity for human cruelty and the systemic failures that can contribute to such tragedies. The community continues to grapple with the legacy of that night, as the legal and emotional repercussions linger on.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Deltona Massacre Occurs
Four men break into a home and murder six victims, including a dog, in a brutal attack.
Investigation Begins
Authorities launch an investigation into the mass murder, leading to the identification of suspects.
Trial Verdicts Announced
A jury finds Troy Victorino, Jerone Hunter, Robert Cannon, and Michael Salas guilty of the murders.
Sentencing Phase
Judge sentences Victorino and Hunter to death, while Cannon and Salas receive life sentences.
Death Sentences Overturned
The Florida Supreme Court overturns the death sentences of Victorino and Hunter, requiring new sentencing hearings.
Prosecutors Seek New Sentences
Prosecutors announce intentions to seek death sentences again for Victorino and Hunter following the Supreme Court ruling.
Legislative Response
Florida legislature passes a bill to address probation violators with violent histories following the massacre.