An 18-year-old man accused in a brutal Port St. Lucie homicide may have been on the verge of a second killing when he was caught outside another home.
The Port St. Lucie Police Department (PSLPD) booked Omarion Daitron Ivory for first-degree murder on Wednesday and, when announcing his arrest, added that investigators feared that his crimes could have become something more horrific.
“We may have had an undetected serial killer in the works,” PSLPD Assistant Chief Leo Niemczyk said.
PSLPD announced the homicide arrest of Ivory on Thursday for the Sept. 8 stabbing death ofFrancis Devon Gennace, 67, of Port St. Lucie.
On September 12, police officers were called to the home on SE Albatross Avenue around 9:30 a.m. to conduct a welfare check for Gennace after he did not show up for work the last few days, PSLPD stated. When they arrived, officer reported finding Gennace with 45 stab wounds and signs of blunt force trauma to the head.
“Normally, a violent crime like this, the suspect is known by the victim,” said Niemczyk. “In this case, (evidence of that) just wasn’t happening. It wasn’t clicking.”
Ivory’s Arrest
On September 20, nearly two weeks after Gennace was killed, a 911 dispatcher was alerted to a suspicious man in the area of SE Lavina Circle in Port St. Lucie.
PLSPD released doorbell camera footage of the incident. It showed Ivory going up to a home and knocking on the door. As he stood there, Ivory began shuffling with the backpack he was carrying. He eventually reached into the bag and pulled out a hammer.
A woman was home at the time, but did not answer.
Niemczyk stated he believed Ivory was preparing to kill again that day.
“All accounts lead us to believe that Mr. Ivory was probably preparing to commit a second homicide that day, a second random act and a second person not known to him. In the past during his Baker Acts, he had made statements regarding he would kill people. It was very alarming. Now he’s going to a second home, somebody he has no idea who they are and I mean, we’re surmising what his intentions were but based upon what we know of our crime scene and what he had in his possession, I think it’s pretty obvious what he was up to,” said Asst. Police Chief Niemczyk.
When police arrived, they arrested Ivory for loitering, prowling, and possession of a burglary tool. Once in custody, investigators noticed Ivory matched the description of the man observed in neighborhood surveillance video outside the Gennace residence on the day of the homicide.
A detective brought him into the station after learning of the arrest, where they were able to match him to the footage outside Gennace’s home.
The hammer found on Ivory when he was arrested had further evidence linking the teen to the homicide – Gennace’s blood.
Asst. Police Chief Niemczyk says in Gennace’s home, Ivory left a fingerprint, a shoe print and some DNA.
Ivory did not steal anything from Gennace’s house.The fact that Gennace was attacked with a hammer and stabbed dozens of times shocks one of his neighbors.
“That’s just awful. The way that society is, just went to heck. Went to hell. It’s disturbing. Society has gone to hell in a handbasket,” said Perri Pikey, one of Gennace’s neighbors.
The Allegations
Authorities say that it is a highly unusual, isolated situation, and they do not believe he has more victims associated with unsolved cases.
In all Ivory is charged with:
- Burglary of an unoccupied dwelling
- Grand theft
- Loitering and prowling
- Possession of burglary tools
- First-degree premeditated homicide
- Armed burglary of a dwelling committing battery
Ivory had a juvenile record, and according to PLSPD, his family cites mental health issues.
Dedicated Advocacy for Personal Injury Victims
Suffering a personal injury can be life-changing, leading to physical pain, financial stress, and emotional strain. Ovadia Law Group is committed to providing dedicated advocacy for personal injury victims, helping clients navigate the legal process to secure fair compensation. Our experienced team handles everything from investigating the incident to negotiating with insurance companies, ensuring that your rights are protected. We understand how challenging this time can be, and we work tirelessly to relieve you of legal burdens so you can focus on recovery. If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, let Ovadia Law Group fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us at 1-800-674-9396 for a free consultation, and see how we can help you pursue justice and get your life back on track.
Source: cbs12
