St. Augustine, FL – A Palm Coast man that prosecutors say was involved in a love triangle is found guilty of setting another man’s body on fire after killing him first.
A St. Johns County jury convicted 27-year-old Justin A. Boyles on second-degree murder and kidnapping charges Monday night in the June 2013 death of 54-year-old Edward S. Mullener.
Spencer Hathaway – a spokesman for 7th Circuit State Attorney RJ Larizza – says Boyles can get life in prison when he’s sentenced next month.
“The jury – made up of 9 women and 3 men – began deliberating around 1 PM [Monday] before returning the guilty verdicts after 8 PM,” Hathaway noted.
Another Palm Coast man – 40-year-old Charles D. Massey – testified against Boyles during the trial as part of a plea deal on a second-degree murder charge. He will be sentenced on January 6th, per Hathaway.
Prosecutors say Boyles and Massey tortured and beat Mullener to death before setting his body and his vehicle on fire in the Flagler Estates neighborhood.
“Evidence presented at trial show that Boyles became angry with Mullener over his relationship with a woman that Boyles was also involved with romantically,” Hathaway stated. “The victim was found in the trunk of his vehicle.”
Boyles and Massey allegedly committed their crime at the behest of the 35-year-old woman after she told them Mullener wouldn’t leave her alone. She was not charged.
Mugshots below are courtesy of Flagler County Jail.
Justin A. Boyles
Charles D. Massey
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