Lewis Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2018 Murder of Jessie Sumlar
Duval County Grand Jury Indicts Baer, Hyde for First-Degree Murder
Published on: February 25, 2021
Office of the State Attorney
Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida
www.sao4th.com
Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida
www.sao4th.com
Melissa W Nelson
State Attorney
311 West Monroe Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202-4242
(904) 255-2500
State Attorney Melissa Nelson today announced the return by a Duval County grand jury of indictments charging two defendants with First-Degree Murder in longstanding cold cases.
The grand jury returned First-Degree Murder charges for:
• William Baer Jr. S.A. No. 20CF032948AD. Baer also is charged with Kidnapping with a Weapon, Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary, and Aggravated Battery. Baer, a former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office detective, and a co-defendant were arrested in July 2020 for the 1999 murder of local businessman Saad Kawaf. The case is being prosecuted by State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Chief Assistant L.E. Hutton.
• Ronnie Hyde. S.A. No. 17CF012484AD. Hyde also is charged with 25 counts of Possession of Photographs/Sexual Performance by a Child. Hyde was arrested in March 2017 for the 1994 murder of 16-year-old Fred Laster. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi.