Arrest and Charges
A man has been arrested and charged with stealing and selling the car of an elderly South Florida couple who were fatally shot in March. Maurice Newson, 30, of Davie, was arrested in May on charges of grand theft auto and dealing in stolen property, according to court records. Newson, who had been in a relationship with one of the victims’ granddaughters, pleaded not guilty to the charges last month and was released on bond.
The Victims and Their Vehicle
Major and Claudette Melvin, aged 89 and 85 respectively, owned a 2014 Ford Fusion, which was missing when Fort Lauderdale police responded to the couple’s home on March 22. After seeking the public’s help in locating the vehicle, it was found about two weeks following the double homicide.
Defense and Investigation
Newson’s attorney, Jeremy McLymont, stated that Fort Lauderdale police have been investigating the case for over three months without uncovering evidence to charge Newson with murder. McLymont also mentioned that they have not received any evidence from prosecutors related to the vehicle theft.
Surveillance Footage and Witness Accounts
Surveillance footage at the Melvin home shows someone arriving in the early morning hours of March 22 and leaving a few minutes later. Several hours later, the video shows the Melvins’ car being driven away from the house. The vehicle was taken north and left in a commuter train parking lot, where a tow truck picked it up later that day.
Discovery of the Vehicle
A witness told police they spotted the car in a tow company parking lot on April 4, according to court records. A tow truck driver informed police he had bought the car for $200 from a man later identified in a photo lineup as Newson.
