- December 16, 2025
Because the jury was not able to reach a unanimous decision, the judge at the Flagler County courthouse declared a mistrial in the case against Gytonia Cheek, according to Klare Ly, of the State Attorney's Office.
Cheek, of Palatka, is connected to the Christmas 2007 murder of retired school teacher Myrtle McKinney, in Palatka.
The State Attorney’s Office plans to try the case again the end of February, in Bunnell again.
The Palatka Daily News reported: “Four people were charged in the slaying, and Cheek is the second to go on trial. She faces up to life imprisonment.”
The newspaper continued:
“Cheek has been attentive during the trial, taking notes and speaking often with her two court-appointed defense attorneys. She cried quietly during the trial's closing arguments.
"‘There is no forensic evidence linking Miss Cheek to the crime whatsoever,’ defense attorney Anne Marie Gennusa said. ‘Not even a hair.’
“She described the collection and testing of crime-scene evidence as inadequate and dismissed accounts from Cheek's former cellmates as ‘incredible and self-serving.’
“Gennusa said more than reasonable doubt remained.
“‘People want to see justice served,’ she said. ‘But people want to see justice served against the appropriate person.’”
To read the full story about the trial at PalatkaDailyNews.com, click here.
