- April 19, 2024
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A grand jury on Tuesday returned indictments against two Flagler County men accused of the kidnapping, torture and murder of another man.
The jury charged Charles "Daniel" Massey and Justin Adam Boyles with first-degree murder and kidnapping in relation to the death of Edward "Scott" Mullener.
To reach a conviction of first-degree murder, prosecutors must prove that the crime was premeditated. The charge carries a potential death sentence.
On June 14, Mullener’s charred remains were found in the trunk of his Cadillac Fleetwood, which was badly burned and parked on a logging road in St. Johns County.
Investigators say that Mullener’s death arose from an apparent love triangle between Boyles, Mullener and Antoinette Heart, also a Flagler County resident. Mullener and Boyles argued on June 13 at Heart’s house, she told investigators. She was inside her home during the argument, and when she looked outside, she said she saw Boyles standing over a semi-conscious Mullener, who was covered in blood.
Boyles then left briefly and returned with Massey and another woman, who went inside the house with Heart. The men poured beer in Mullener’s mouth and burned his neck with cigarettes before taking him away in his Cadillac, the women told investigators.
The next morning, authorities found the car, which had been set on fire. They soon identified the remains found in the car's trunk as Mullener's.
Boyles and Massey were arrested on June 21 on charges related to the investigation into Mullener’s death. On July 11, they were charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. However, persons facing capital felony charges must be indicted by a 15- to 21-member grand jury, which meets in a closed courtroom and examines the case before making a decision.
With Tuesday’s indictment, the cases against Boyles and Massey will move forward. They will both be tried in St. Johns County.
