Melbourne, Florida – A grand jury in Brevard County has indicted a man for the murder of a former friend, as reported on Tuesday. The incident took place on February 24, when Melbourne Police responded to a 911 call from a residence on McDermott Avenue and discovered the deceased body of 32-year-old Kenneth Johnson.
Johnson was found with severe injuries to his head and body, and the Medical Examiner determined his cause of death to be multiple blunt-force trauma injuries. The potential murder weapon, a blue and black rubber-handled claw hammer, was found near Johnson’s body in his bedroom. After an extensive investigation, detectives identified 26-year-old Chasemichael Wilson Smith as a person of interest in the case.
Authorities later located Johnson’s pickup truck in Indian River County, where they found a pair of white sneakers covered in blood splatter near the vehicle. Additional evidence, eyewitness testimony, and surveillance video linked Smith to both Johnson’s murder and the theft of his truck. It was revealed that Smith had been staying with Johnson at his home on McDermott Avenue after being asked to leave a sober living house, and he was reportedly the last person to see Johnson alive.
Following the discovery of Johnson’s body, police obtained a warrant for Smith’s arrest on charges of first-degree murder. Two days later, Smith was apprehended and taken into custody at Brevard County Jail without bond. The grand jury, after hearing from the Associate Brevard County Medical Examiner and Melbourne Police Investigators, officially charged Smith with first-degree premeditated murder and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
As the case progresses, no trial date has been set for Smith. The indictment marks a significant development in the investigation into the death of Kenneth Johnson, shedding light on the events leading up to his tragic demise. The community awaits further updates as law enforcement continues to pursue justice for the victim and accountability for the accused perpetrator.