INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A former Sebastian River High School student was sentenced to 35 years in prison for fatally shooting a classmate and football player before leaving the body deep in the woods. Indian River County Circuit Court Judge Robert Meadows handed down the sentencing last Wednesday in the February 2019 slaying, records show.
Elisha Martin, now 23, pled no contest to charges of second-degree murder with a firearm and possession with intent to sell more than 20 grams of marijuana. Meadows ordered Martin to serve 35 years for the murder charge and five years for the drug charge.
Martin was given five years of credit time served, court records show. He was held at the Indian River County Jail since his 2019 arrest.
On Thursday, Martin was transferred from the jail to the Florida Department of Corrections, the sheriff’s booking site shows. Martin was also ordered to pay more than $1,000 in fines and court costs.
The shooting claimed the life of Logan Spencer, who was 16 years old and lived in Sebastian. Spencer’s teammates previously described him as a “protector” and “gentle giant.”
Community members held a candlelight vigil for Spencer on Feb. 28, 2019, seven days after a resident found his remains in the 13000 block of 87th Street in Fellsmere. Deputies said Spencer, a junior at the time, and Martin, a senior, were close friends.
Spencer was reported missing on Feb. 18, 2019, the same day Martin picked up the teen from his girlfriend’s home, deputies said. Deputies said Martin planned the execution-style shooting days earlier because he thought Spencer stole a large amount of money – about $20,000 – from his home.
Deputies said Martin got the money from drug sales. Sheriff’s officials previously said they could not confirm if the money was actually stolen since a police report was not filed.
Martin picked up Spencer under the ruse that they were going to shoot guns in Fellsmere, deputies said. He then drove Spencer to a wooded area and the two got out of the vehicle.
Deputies said Martin acted like he was urinating and shot Spencer in the back of the head – at close range – when he looked away. Sheriff’s officials said Spencer’s body was discovered about 25 yards into the woods.
Deputies said Martin later confessed to witnesses that he shot Spencer. Investigators found the .38 caliber revolver used in the shooting at Martin’s residence.
