Robert Cannon and the 2004 Deltona Massacre
Overview
Robert Cannon was one of four men responsible for the August 6, 2004, mass murder of six people inside a home at 3106 Telford Lane in Deltona, Florida. Cannon participated in the attack with Troy Victorino, Jerone Hunter and Michael Salas. The killings became known as the Deltona massacre and were widely referred to as the “Xbox murders” because a dispute involving an Xbox game console was among the grievances used to justify the attack.
The six victims were beaten and stabbed after the four attackers entered the residence during the early morning hours. Baseball bats and bladed weapons were used during the assault. Erin Belanger’s pet dachshund, George, was also deliberately killed. The massacre was described as one of the most brutal crimes in Volusia County history.
Events Leading to the Murders
The conflict originated at a separate Deltona property belonging to Erin Belanger’s grandparents. Belanger had moved from New Hampshire to Florida to care for the property. While the house was vacant, Victorino and several other people had occupied it without permission and used it as a gathering place.
Belanger contacted law enforcement and had the occupants removed. Personal property left inside the house was gathered and boxed. Victorino subsequently claimed that an Xbox, clothing and other belongings had been taken from him. He reportedly viewed Belanger’s decision to involve police as an act of disrespect and began discussing retaliation.
Victorino recruited Cannon, Hunter and Salas to accompany him to the Telford Lane residence. The intended targets included Belanger and members of her household. Investigators concluded that the men planned the assault in advance, obtained baseball bats and traveled to the house together. One person against whom the group also held a grievance was expected to be present but was not inside the home when the attack occurred.
Two days before the murders, Cannon and the other men were reportedly seen with baseball bats at a Walmart in New Smyrna Beach. A store employee later told investigators that members of the group made disturbing comments about using the bats to strike people. This evidence helped demonstrate that the violence was contemplated before the group entered the victims’ home.
The Attack on Telford Lane
During the early morning of August 6, 2004, Cannon, Victorino, Hunter and Salas entered the residence at 3106 Telford Lane. Six people were inside. The attackers moved through the house, striking and stabbing the occupants before they had any meaningful opportunity to escape or obtain help.
Jonathan Gleason was attacked near a recliner in the living area. Francisco “Flaco” Ayo-Roman was beaten with an aluminum baseball bat. Roberto “Tito” Gonzalez was struck repeatedly and stabbed. Erin Belanger was beaten to death inside the residence. Anthony Vega and his girlfriend, Michelle Ann Nathan, were attacked in or near the master bedroom. Nathan reportedly attempted to conceal herself in a closet but was discovered and killed.
The victims suffered numerous injuries from blunt-force blows and sharp weapons. The number and severity of the wounds demonstrated that the assault continued long after the occupants had been incapacitated. Belanger’s dog, George, was also intentionally killed during the invasion.
Although later accounts identified Victorino and Hunter as personally carrying out several specific assaults, Cannon was criminally responsible as an active participant in the planned armed burglary and mass killing. He entered the home with the group, assisted in the attack and later admitted legal responsibility for all six murders.
Victims
- Erin Belanger — Killed on August 6, 2004, at 3106 Telford Lane in Deltona, Florida. Belanger had moved from Nashua, New Hampshire, to care for her grandparents’ Florida property. She worked at a local Burger King and had taken action to remove Victorino and other unauthorized occupants from her grandparents’ house.
- Francisco “Flaco” Ayo-Roman — Killed on August 6, 2004, at the Telford Lane residence in Deltona. Ayo-Roman was Belanger’s boyfriend and co-worker. Originally from Puerto Rico, he had moved to Florida and reportedly hoped to complete his education and obtain nursing credentials.
- Michelle Ann Nathan — Killed on August 6, 2004, inside the Deltona home. Nathan was Anthony Vega’s girlfriend and was among the residents associated with the local Burger King. She attempted to hide during the attack but was found and fatally assaulted.
- Anthony Vega — Killed on August 6, 2004, at the Telford Lane home. Vega was Nathan’s boyfriend and had recently moved into the residence. He had worked in painting and construction after relocating to Florida from New York.
- Roberto “Tito” Gonzalez — Killed on August 6, 2004, while staying at the Deltona residence. Gonzalez was a co-worker and friend of members of the household. He had moved to Florida from the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan.
- Jonathan Gleason — Killed on August 6, 2004, inside the Telford Lane home. Gleason was from the Deltona area and was visiting or staying at the residence. He was remembered as intelligent, multilingual and interested in performing arts and humanitarian work.
Discovery and Investigation
The bodies were discovered later on August 6 after concerns arose about the occupants of the house. The condition of the residence immediately indicated that an exceptionally violent attack had occurred. Investigators recovered physical evidence associated with baseball bats, footwear, blood and other objects connected to the assailants.
Law-enforcement officers quickly began examining the recent dispute between Belanger and Victorino. Witness interviews revealed Victorino’s anger concerning his belongings and the eviction from Belanger’s grandparents’ property. Investigators also learned that Victorino had discussed retaliation and had recruited Cannon, Hunter and Salas.
The four men were arrested within days of the massacre. Statements from witnesses, forensic evidence and information supplied by members of the group allowed investigators to reconstruct the planning and execution of the murders. The evidence showed that the killings were not the result of an unexpected confrontation. The attackers had armed themselves, traveled to the residence and entered with the shared purpose of committing violence.
Cannon’s Guilty Plea
Unlike the three other defendants, Cannon ultimately entered guilty pleas rather than contesting all of the charges before a jury. His pleas established his legal responsibility for each of the six first-degree murders and for the additional crimes committed during the home invasion.
Under Florida law, Cannon did not have to be identified as the person who delivered a particular fatal blow to be convicted of first-degree murder. His participation in the planning and execution of the armed attack made him accountable for the deaths caused by the group. By pleading guilty, Cannon acknowledged his involvement in a coordinated crime that predictably resulted in multiple killings.
Cannon’s cooperation and guilty pleas distinguished his sentencing outcome from those of Victorino and Hunter, who were initially sentenced to death. However, the court still imposed penalties intended to ensure that Cannon would never be released from prison.
Convictions and Sentencing
In 2006, Cannon was sentenced to six consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole for the murders of Erin Belanger, Francisco Ayo-Roman, Michelle Nathan, Anthony Vega, Roberto Gonzalez and Jonathan Gleason. He also received a life sentence for armed burglary of a dwelling with a weapon.
Additional sentences were imposed for conspiracy, tampering with physical evidence, abuse of dead human bodies and cruelty to an animal. The combined punishment guaranteed that Cannon would remain incarcerated for the rest of his life.
Michael Salas was also sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Troy Victorino and Jerone Hunter were initially sentenced to death after being convicted at trial. Their original death sentences were later overturned because of changes involving Florida’s jury-unanimity requirements. Following new penalty proceedings, Victorino and Hunter were again sentenced to death in November 2025.
Aftermath and Significance
The Deltona massacre caused widespread outrage because of the number of victims, the prolonged nature of the assault and the seemingly minor dispute used as its justification. Six people lost their lives over a combination of retaliation, perceived disrespect and property that included an Xbox console and clothing.
The case also raised questions about Florida’s supervision of violent probationers. Victorino had an extensive criminal history and had recently been arrested while on probation. His probation officer had authority to detain him before the massacre but did not do so. The administrative failures surrounding his supervision resulted in disciplinary action and contributed to later efforts to strengthen procedures for handling violent probation violators.
Robert Cannon’s role in the massacre was that of a willing participant in a planned armed invasion. He accompanied the other attackers, helped carry out the attack and accepted responsibility for six murders. His six life sentences without parole reflect the scale of the crime and the permanent devastation inflicted upon the victims’ families and the Deltona community.
