PORT CHARLOTTE, FL – A Charlotte County judge handed down a death sentence Monday to a 33-year-old man convicted in the 2019 killing of a teenage boy who was shielding his young sister during a violent home invasion.
Ryan Cole was sentenced after jurors voted 10-2 in favor of the death penalty for the murder of 15-year-old Khyler Edman. Earlier this year, Cole was found guilty of first-degree murder and burglary following a trial that revealed gruesome details of the crime.
Prosecutors said Cole was on a drug binge and broke into the Edman family’s home Sept. 26, 2019, believing he might find either drugs or cash. Just after 4 p.m., Cole used a tool to force his way into the carport and entered the kitchen, surprising Khyler and his 5-year-old sister, who were alone while their mother was at work.
Authorities shared that Khyler grabbed a chef’s knife, trying to protect himself and his sister from the intruder. Security cameras inside the home recorded audio capturing the chaos, including a voice urging, “Come here friend,” and blood hitting the floor in the background.
Investigators testified Cole stabbed Khyler four times in the chest and abdomen before fleeing. The teenager died at the scene, while his sister remained hidden under a bed, unharmed but traumatized.
Police arrested Cole nearby with a cut hand, suggesting he was injured while taking the knife from Khyler during the struggle. Cole later told authorities he had no memory of the attack.
During sentencing, prosecutors emphasized that the murder occurred during a burglary and described the attack as exceptionally cruel, noting Cole’s taunting words in the video recording. They argued that these factors justified the death penalty under state law.
The defense pushed back, with Cole’s public defender arguing for life without parole instead of execution. The attorney called such a sentence “a slow, humane form of justice,” suggesting a lifetime in prison would still ensure accountability and punishment for Cole.
Ultimately, Circuit Judge Lisa Porter adopted the jury’s recommendation and imposed the death sentence. The decision came under Florida law, which now allows juries to recommend capital punishment with as few as eight votes, a change made after a high-profile 2022 case in Parkland.
Following the verdict, area law enforcement and relatives of the victim publicly welcomed the outcome. Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell remarked that justice had been served, while Khyler’s family expressed enduring grief and underscored the teen’s bravery.
Khyler’s aunt, speaking on behalf of the family, described ongoing heartache from the loss and said the young man’s act of courage continues to be remembered by loved ones.