State Attorney Amira Fox said the Lee County grand jury returned the indictment on Wednesday.
Two Fort Myers men face the death penalty after a Lee County grand jury indicted them Wednesday, one in a drug-related death and the other in an armed robbery.
Prosecutor Amira Fox announced the charges the same day. There are already eight men on death row in Lee County, and a jury this week recommended a ninth, convicted murderer Wade Wilson.
Michael Maree charged with fentanyl death
Michael Maree, 66, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the unlawful distribution of fentanyl resulting in death (a capital crime) and with the sale or delivery of a controlled substance (a second-degree capital crime) in connection with the death of 36-year-old Nick Adams, who died after being administered fentanyl.
Adams died on Jan. 1 when Maree invited him to her home in Fort Myers to sell the drugs. In Maree’s driveway, Adams received a plastic bag with a powdery substance inside, Fox said.
After snorting the substance, Adams immediately fell and died. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office then launched an investigation. The substance test revealed fentanyl.
Fox said the medical examiner confirmed that Adams’ cause of death was acute fentanyl toxicity.
Wade Wilson: Jury disagrees and recommends death penalty for Wade Wilson for double murder
Maree was arrested on January 1 on a separate charge. He was accused of possessing explosives in his home.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said that while detectives were investigating the 9000 block of Belleza Way, an independent investigation was launched into Maree.
The sheriff’s office said detectives had sufficient probable cause to obtain a search warrant for Maree’s apartment.
Detectives apparently found parts of hand grenades and a firearm silencer in a toolbox, the sheriff’s office said.
Members of the sheriff’s bomb disposal squad also investigated. Authorities pointed out that the grenades could be converted into usable grenades “with only minor modifications.”
They found several mercury switches – electrical devices for opening and closing circuits – that could serve as tamper protection for the explosives.
Also found in the toolbox, authorities said, was a small container containing two suspected explosive devices, as well as a railroad torpedo. Wikipedia reports that a railroad torpedo is a device, usually the size of a coin, used as a loud warning signal for train drivers. When the train’s wheel passes over it, it explodes with a loud bang.
The sheriff’s office said the Fort Myers Fire Department’s hazardous materials unit responded and assisted in examining the evidence.
The test revealed that illegal explosives were present, the sheriff’s office said. The torpedo also contained black powder, which is also illegal to own.
As a result of this incident, Maree is charged with manufacturing, possessing, throwing, placing, firing or attempting to operate an explosive device.
Maree’s arraignment date had not been announced Wednesday evening. He was arrested during a traffic stop on Wednesday, Fox said.
Courtney Parchman charged after fatal armed robbery
Courtney Parchman, 31, was arrested June 5 for his role in a fatal armed robbery at the Royal Jacks Arcade on the corner of Pondella and Moody roads in North Fort Myers and was also charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday.
The murder occurred in the early hours of June 1st.
The indictment lists three counts: premeditated murder, robbery by firing a firearm resulting in death or serious bodily harm, and tampering with or falsifying evidence.
According to the prosecution, the last indictment occurred between June 1 and 5.
The indictment alleges that after fatally shooting the security guard, Parchman stole an undisclosed amount of cash and intentionally altered, destroyed, concealed or removed records, documents or objects in order to affect their accuracy or availability in any proceeding or investigation.
Parchman is due back in court on July 8 to face capital felony charges.
The sheriff’s office said investigators are continuing to follow up on leads and investigate additional witnesses and suspects. They are urging anyone with information about this case to contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS or online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com.
Maree and Parchman are being held in the Lee County Jail without bail.
Tomas Rodriguez is a breaking/live news reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Reach Tomas at [email protected] or 772-333-5501. Reach him on threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.
