Sharon Sewell, aged 53, tragically lost her life on October 30, 2017, in Vero Beach, Florida. Initially, her death was suspected to be a traffic-related incident, but an autopsy revealed that she had died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Her body was discovered on a rural, unpaved section of 61st Street, bordered by fields and trees. The investigation quickly shifted to a homicide case, leading to the arrest of two individuals, Antonio McNeal and his cousin, Keith "Egbert" Taylor.
Antonio McNeal, who was 28 at the time, played a significant role in the events leading to Sewell's death. On the day of the incident, McNeal and Taylor had devised a plan to rob Sewell of her prescription pain pills, which had a substantial street value. McNeal, who was wearing a court-ordered GPS monitor, took Sewell to a store in southern Brevard County to fill her prescription for 90 Dilaudid pills. Later that night, under the pretense of car trouble, McNeal and Taylor lured Sewell out of the vehicle and shot her in the back of the head. They then sold the stolen pills for $600.
The investigation revealed that McNeal and Taylor had both been involved in the crime, with each accusing the other of being the shooter. McNeal eventually pleaded no contest to charges of second-degree murder with a firearm, robbery with a deadly weapon, tampering with evidence, and providing false information concerning a capital felony. In exchange for his plea, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. His cooperation was instrumental in securing the conviction of Taylor, who was found guilty of manslaughter with a firearm and sentenced to life in prison.
The case against McNeal and Taylor was built on substantial evidence, including McNeal's GPS monitor data, which placed him at the scene of the crime, and surveillance footage showing McNeal and Sewell together at the pharmacy. Additionally, investigators found Sewell's burned purse and other items in a wooded area near McNeal's former home. The tragic death of Sharon Sewell highlighted the dangers of drug-related crimes and the lengths to which individuals will go to obtain valuable prescription medications.
