Judge Sentences McDowell to Death for Murder of Dep. Joshua Moyers
Phoenix Pleads Guilty to Murder, to Serve 35 Years in Prison
Published on: October 15, 2020
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 announces Sean Phoenix, of Jacksonville, entered a guilty plea to the charge of Second-Degree Murder in the February 2018 death of Celine Walker. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the Honorable Meredith Charbula sentenced Phoenix to 35 years in Florida State Prison.
On Feb. 4, 2018, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office patrol officers responded to a Southside hotel regarding a person being shot. Upon arrival, officers located Walker, a transgender woman, inside a room deceased from multiple gunshots. Homicide detectives secured the scene and collected evidence, including DNA and shell casings. The DNA was analyzed, and Phoenix’s DNA was discovered on Walker’s body and inside the hotel room. On Sept. 24, 2019, Phoenix was interviewed by members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. During that interview, he admitted to killing Walker in the hotel room after an argument. He also admitted to selling the gun to an unknown individual to dispose of the murder weapon.
The case was investigated by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Korey Milo.