Two men face charges in Florida for allegedly beating a Maine man to death while he was out for a bicycle ride.

Who is the Victim?

Jeffrey Chapman was just 49 years old when he died in a random attack in Clearwater Beach, Florida. WFTS-TV reports Chapman owned an investment company and divided his time between Maine and Florida. According to his obituary in the BDN, he loved taking pictures, especially of sunsets.

Bangor Daily News Obituaries
Bangor Daily News Obituaries
loading...
Get our free mobile app

Who Are the Suspects?

But in October, a late-night bicycle ride caused him to cross paths with Savonne Morrison and Jermaine Bennett. The two men were on a violent spree, using tire irons to damage numerous cars, and also allegedly beating a St. Petersburg man, before using the weapon on Chapman. The Clearwater Police Department released this video of the two suspects damaging vehicles prior to Chapman's death. While this video does not show any people being attacked, we caution that it is, nonetheless, disturbing.

What Charges Do They Face?

According to the Clearwater Police, 26-year-old Bennett, whose vehicle was found at the scene, has admitted to beating Chapman to death with a tire iron in a random attack. He's been charged with first-degree murder. A second suspect, 18-year-old Savonne Morrison, is charged with principal to first-degree murder. That means that, although he may not have been the one who did the actual crime, he is accused of aiding and abetting the act. A principal can be punished for the full crime, even though they may not have been the one who actually caused the death.

Clearwater Police Dept/7713Photography, ThinkStock
Clearwater Police Dept/7713Photography, ThinkStock
loading...

This case remains under investigation.

Jeff Chapman is survived by his daughter and son, Sierra and Alex, as well as his father and stepmother, two siblings, and other family and loved ones.

Our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

The Scary Stories of 10 Maine Multiple Murderers & Their Victims

Let's explore some of the darkest stories from Maine's criminal history.

16 Unsolved Homicides in Maine from the Past 20 Years

Anyone with information about any of these crimes is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police.

More From WQCB Brewer Maine