Office of the State Attorney

PRESS RELEASE

August 26, 2024

 

State of Florida v. Steven Tilbury

State of Florida v. Justin David Brown

State of Florida v. Tania Lopez-Morales

State of Florida v. Martin Martinez

 

Tilbury Case Number: 2021 305950 CFDB

Brown Case Number: N/A

Morales Case Number: 2411119CJDL

Martinez Case Number: 2411131CJDL

 

Four Volusia County Defendants Indicted on First-Degree Murder

DELAND – The Volusia County Grand Jury heard four new cases today.

The first case was that of Steven Tilbury. The defendant is accused of hitting his co-worker in the head with a baseball bat at the Daytona Beach car dealership they worked at on November 23, 2021. The victim died from his injuries at the hospital a week later.

The second case was that of Justin Brown. The defendant is accused of selling fentanyl and cocaine to a man in October 2023, which he took and later died of an overdose.

The third and fourth case were that of Tania Lopez-Morales, 17, and Martin Martinez, 15. The Young Gun defendants lured another juvenile to Pierson on August 7, 2024, with plans to rob him. After the victim arrived at the meeting location, Lopez-Morales and Martinez approached his vehicle with guns. When he tried to drive away, they shot at him multiple times. The victim died from his injuries at the scene.

The indictments were handed down on Monday morning. Tilbury was charged with First-Degree Murder. Brown was charged with First-Degree Murder by Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance. Lopez-Morales and Martinez were both charged with Felony First-Degree Murder and Robbery with a Firearm.

The case against Tilbury was investigated by the Daytona Beach Police Department. The cases against Brown, Lopez-Morales and Martinez were investigated by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

 

For more information contact: 

Haley Harrison | Public Information Officer | Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza, Florida's Seventh Judicial Circuit | SAOPIO@SAO7.org