katyk
Well-Known Member
Remember a couple weeks ago when I posted a thread about my great aunt that was murdered 15 years ago? Well, turns out I also went to elementary school with a murderer! I swear, that's it. I think. I mean, I really think I do not know anyone else who has murdered or been murdered.
Ronald Bell, Jr, or as his friends called him, Ron, was 17 years old in 1999. He was a senior at Choctawhatchee High School (my high school's rivals) in Fort Walton Beach, FL -- my hometown. His father was a youth pastor and his family was well liked in the community. Ron was always friendly and often worked with his father's youth groups.
Then he met 16-year-old Kristel Maestas and things seemed to go downhill from there.
Surprisingly, there are very few articles online (that I could find) on this case, even though I know it was a huge deal at the time. Especially because Ron became the youngest person to enter Florida's death row.
Ron has appealed the death row decision several times and I've yet to even find if it was overturned. Either way, the best written document of events I could find is the writ of appeal filed with the Florida Supreme Court.
Here are some of the facts:
Kristel was kicked out of her parents home in early 1999. Ron helped her find an apartment and roommate, a man named Cordell Richards who worked at the local Waffle House.
One evening, Kristel and her sister, Renee, claimed Cordell was propositioning them for sex. They called Ron, who came over to the apartment and began fighting with Cordell. Things got out of hand quickly, and before they knew it, they were wrapping Cordell's unconscious, but alive, body in a rug and stuffing him in the trunk.
Then they went to a secluded cul-de-sac, took the now conscious man into the woods, and tied Cordell to a tree. They continued to beat him, forced him to give up his ATM pin, allwhile he begged for his life. Ron then poured lighter fluid on him and lit him on fire.
That's not all. Oh no. All 3 returned to the scene at least 2 more times to make sure Cordell was dead. He wasn't. They could hear him faintly calling for help. They went to Target to purchase duct tape and a butcher's knife (red flags, anyone?) and went back to finish the job.
I won't get into the gory details, it's pretty bad. But they tortured this poor guy for a while before he died. You can read it all in the court documents if you want.
In the end, they were caught, Renee was given 15 years for manslaughter in exchange for her testimony. Kristel went to trial first and was sentenced to life on charges of first degree murder and kidnapping. Ron was sentenced to death in 2000 on the same charges.
I couldn't find a picture of Cordell or Renee, but here are the latest mugs of Kristel and Ron:
Ok, and just for good measure, I am going to do the unspeakable. I am going to post the nerdiest, worst picture ever taken of me or any other 11-year old. My 5th grade class photo. Ron Bell was in my class and when I heard about this murder, I was shocked. He was, in all honesty, one of the nicest, happiest people I'd ever met. I mean, look at me. I was pretty awkward and he was very kind to me. My best friend, also in this picture but I won't point out, is now a world renowned supermodel. No joke.
Ron is highlighted in the top left corner and I am the other highlighted one. It's ok. Laugh. Laugh away. I had to show this to my boyfriend for him to scan it and he was rolling on the floor. I like the giant glasses and manatee t-shirt I was wearing. Oh God, what did I just do?
In all seriousness, I do think it's sad there's no easily found information on Cordell. His life was worth something and it seems like he's all but forgotten.
I don't know if Ron was successful in overturning the death penalty, I couldn't find that information either. One site did list him as still the youngest man on Florida's death row "currently", but there was no date on the site. Hmph.
Ronald Bell, Jr, or as his friends called him, Ron, was 17 years old in 1999. He was a senior at Choctawhatchee High School (my high school's rivals) in Fort Walton Beach, FL -- my hometown. His father was a youth pastor and his family was well liked in the community. Ron was always friendly and often worked with his father's youth groups.
Then he met 16-year-old Kristel Maestas and things seemed to go downhill from there.
Surprisingly, there are very few articles online (that I could find) on this case, even though I know it was a huge deal at the time. Especially because Ron became the youngest person to enter Florida's death row.
Ron has appealed the death row decision several times and I've yet to even find if it was overturned. Either way, the best written document of events I could find is the writ of appeal filed with the Florida Supreme Court.
Here are some of the facts:
Kristel was kicked out of her parents home in early 1999. Ron helped her find an apartment and roommate, a man named Cordell Richards who worked at the local Waffle House.
One evening, Kristel and her sister, Renee, claimed Cordell was propositioning them for sex. They called Ron, who came over to the apartment and began fighting with Cordell. Things got out of hand quickly, and before they knew it, they were wrapping Cordell's unconscious, but alive, body in a rug and stuffing him in the trunk.
Then they went to a secluded cul-de-sac, took the now conscious man into the woods, and tied Cordell to a tree. They continued to beat him, forced him to give up his ATM pin, allwhile he begged for his life. Ron then poured lighter fluid on him and lit him on fire.
That's not all. Oh no. All 3 returned to the scene at least 2 more times to make sure Cordell was dead. He wasn't. They could hear him faintly calling for help. They went to Target to purchase duct tape and a butcher's knife (red flags, anyone?) and went back to finish the job.
I won't get into the gory details, it's pretty bad. But they tortured this poor guy for a while before he died. You can read it all in the court documents if you want.
In the end, they were caught, Renee was given 15 years for manslaughter in exchange for her testimony. Kristel went to trial first and was sentenced to life on charges of first degree murder and kidnapping. Ron was sentenced to death in 2000 on the same charges.
I couldn't find a picture of Cordell or Renee, but here are the latest mugs of Kristel and Ron:
Ok, and just for good measure, I am going to do the unspeakable. I am going to post the nerdiest, worst picture ever taken of me or any other 11-year old. My 5th grade class photo. Ron Bell was in my class and when I heard about this murder, I was shocked. He was, in all honesty, one of the nicest, happiest people I'd ever met. I mean, look at me. I was pretty awkward and he was very kind to me. My best friend, also in this picture but I won't point out, is now a world renowned supermodel. No joke.
Ron is highlighted in the top left corner and I am the other highlighted one. It's ok. Laugh. Laugh away. I had to show this to my boyfriend for him to scan it and he was rolling on the floor. I like the giant glasses and manatee t-shirt I was wearing. Oh God, what did I just do?
In all seriousness, I do think it's sad there's no easily found information on Cordell. His life was worth something and it seems like he's all but forgotten.
I don't know if Ron was successful in overturning the death penalty, I couldn't find that information either. One site did list him as still the youngest man on Florida's death row "currently", but there was no date on the site. Hmph.