DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The four suspects accused in the vicious beating and stabbing murders of six people were denied bond and appointed public defenders Monday during their first court appearance.
Police said the attack was the brutal culmination of an argument between Victorino, an ex-convict, and one of the victims, who is believed to be Erin Belanger, 22. Investigators said Victorino organized the attack over his video game system, which had been removed from a vacant house belonging to Belanger's grandparents, where he and others had been squatting.
All four suspects were armed with aluminum bats when Victorino kicked in the locked front door, according to arrest records. The group, who wore black clothes and had scarves on their faces, grabbed knives inside and attacked victims in different rooms of the three-bedroom house, authorities said.
The victims, some of whom were sleeping, did not put up a fight or try to escape, Sheriff Ben Johnson said. All had been stabbed, but autopsies determined the cause of death was the beating injuries. Victorino, the last to leave the house, took the Xbox, police said.
Don't invite any of these guys over for Death Match on your XBox!