Jerone Hunter

Mass Murderer

Jerone Hunter and the 2004 Deltona Massacre

Background

Jerone Hunter was one of four men convicted of murdering six people during a home invasion in Deltona, Florida, on August 6, 2004. The killings became known as the Deltona massacre and were sometimes called the "Xbox murders" because a dispute involving an Xbox video-game system and other personal property contributed to the events preceding the attack. Hunter, who was 18 years old at the time, participated with Troy Victorino, Robert Cannon and Michael Salas. The victims were killed inside a residence at 3106 Telford Lane. Investigators determined that the attackers entered the home armed with aluminum baseball bats and knives. The six occupants were beaten and stabbed in different rooms of the house. Erin Belanger's pet dachshund, George, was also deliberately killed during the attack.

Events Leading to the Murders

The conflict began after Troy Victorino and several associates stayed without permission at a vacant Deltona residence owned by Erin Belanger's grandparents. Belanger had moved from New Hampshire to Florida and was responsible for watching the property. She contacted law enforcement and had Victorino and the other occupants removed from the house. Some property belonging to Victorino and his associates remained inside after the eviction. The items reportedly included clothing and an Xbox console. Belanger boxed up the belongings, but Victorino became convinced that she and her friends had stolen or withheld his property. He also believed that Belanger had disrespected him by involving the police. During the days before the massacre, Victorino discussed retaliating against Belanger and the people living with her. The proposed attack was initially described as a plan to severely beat the occupants of the Telford Lane residence. Hunter, Cannon and Salas became involved in the plan. The men collected baseball bats, and knives were also taken to the house. The group reportedly hoped to confront another man with whom some of them had a grievance. That intended target was not at the residence on the night of the attack. Nevertheless, the four men proceeded with the invasion while six other people were inside.

The Attack on Telford Lane

During the early morning hours of August 6, 2004, Hunter, Victorino, Cannon and Salas entered the Telford Lane home. The occupants had little opportunity to defend themselves. The attackers moved through the residence, striking the victims repeatedly with baseball bats and using knives against several of them. Evidence and testimony presented in court placed Hunter directly inside the house and attributed several of the killings to him. Jonathan Gleason was attacked while he was near a recliner in the living area. Hunter was identified as the person who stabbed Gleason in the neck. Tito Gonzalez was struck in the head with a baseball bat and stabbed repeatedly in the chest and abdomen. Testimony at trial attributed those attacks to Hunter. Gonzalez had been spending the night at the residence and became one of the six people killed even though the underlying dispute did not involve him. Michelle Ann Nathan was in a bedroom with her boyfriend, Anthony Vega, when the invasion began. Nathan attempted to conceal herself in a closet. According to evidence presented during the prosecution, Hunter discovered her hiding place and attacked her with a bat and a knife. Nathan died inside the residence. Anthony Vega was beaten and suffered fatal injuries to his throat. Francisco "Flaco" Ayo-Roman was also struck repeatedly with a baseball bat. Erin Belanger, the primary target of Victorino's anger, was severely beaten. Prosecutors presented evidence that Victorino abused Belanger's body after her death. The attackers also killed Belanger's dachshund, George. The dog was found inside the house with the victims. The killing of the animal later resulted in an animal-cruelty conviction against one of the participants. ...

Confirmed Victims: (6)

Jonathan Gleason 17 yr old Male

Deltona massacre