INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The man who killed another at the Vero Motel in 2013 will spend the rest of his life in prison, Judge Robert Pegg ruled Monday afternoon.
James Weaver, of Port St. Lucie, was in Judge Pegg’s courtroom to enter a plea deal. The details of that deal were not immediately available.
Weaver is accused of killing Daniel Stevens, who was staying in the motel room next to Weaver in August 2013.
Weaver was indicted by a Grand Jury in September 2014.
Sept. 4, 2014
VERO BEACH — More than a year after Daniel Stevens was found dead in his motel room, the victim of a stabbing and robbery, the man suspected of taking his life has been indicted on murder charges, according to the Vero Beach Police Department.
Authorities released a statement Wednesday announcing the Grand Jury’s decision against James Weaver, who has been sitting in the Indian River County Jail since August 2013 on various burglary-related charges.
The Grand Jury was convened on Sept. 9, 2014.
According to the police department, Weaver was seen leaving the area of Stevens’ motel room carrying a backpack, which they contend held Stevens’ Sony Playstation. Stevens’ mother told authorities that the game console was the only thing missing from her son’s motel room.
Weaver is accused of stabbing Stevens multiple times. Police say Weaver had been staying in the motel room next to Stevens at the time of Stevens’ death.
During the course of the investigation, Vero Beach Police suspected Weaver in a home robbery in the McAnsh Park neighborhood in the days leading up to Stevens’ murder.
The victim in the home burglary identified Weaver, who used to clean her pool. During the robbery, the victim said Weaver threatened her with a knife and stole several items before leaving.
A BOLO was issued for Weaver in connection to the home robbery as was a Person of Interest alert for Stevens’ death.
Weaver was picked up on a warrant the night of Aug. 22 and was brought in for questioning, according to police. Investigators determined there to be dried blood on Weaver’s boots and clothes, which were identified as having been stolen in various burglaries and thefts prior to Stevens’ death.
Authorities were able to recover Stevens’ Playstation and other items they say Weaver had stolen and then sold or traded for money and drugs.
Weaver was arrested on various charges and has been sitting in jail ever since, all the while the police department has continued to build a murder case against him, the press release states.
Weaver now faces a charge of first degree murder and is expected to go on trial at a later date.