College student charged with first-degree murder in grandfather's killing in Palm Coast

A Georgia college student accused of killing his grandfather in a “brutal” attack in Palm Coast is facing an upgraded charge of first-degree murder and a new charge of sexual battery in the slaying, according to documents and a press release.

It was one of two murder indictments handed down locally Monday. A separate grand jury in Volusia County indicted a man on a charge of first-degree murder in a separate case.

But the Flagler County case stood out for its violence.

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Luke Ingram, 19, was accused of killing one family member and injuring another in a Palm Coast home while he visited from Georgia on Nov. 9. Originally, the most serious charge he faced was second-degree murder.

But on Monday, a Flagler County grand jury indicted Ingram on charges of first-degree murder and sexual battery deadly weapon/force.

“Ingram is believed to have sexually battered the elderly relative … ,” according to a press release Tuesday from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

The relative died of blunt-force trauma and manual strangulation, according to the release.

Ingram was also charged with domestic battery by strangulation; aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer; resisting an officer with violence; and resisting an officer without violence.

The press release does not identify the relatives whom Ingram was visiting from Georgia where he attended college.

What happened November 9?

Luke Ingram's father, Clint Ingram, 48, described his son as schizophrenic, according to a charging affidavit. Clint Ingram said his son had been acting strangely so he invited him to visit on Nov. 8.

But later that night, things turned violent.

The charging affidavit states that Clint Ingram, 48, went to a neighbor’s house just before 3 a.m. on Nov. 9 saying he needed help because his son had attacked him. Clint Ingram’s face and clothing were stained with blood.

Clint Ingram also told the neighbor that his father, Darwin Ingram, 85, needed help and was bleeding back at their house on Clermont Court, the affidavit stated.

“My son attacked me, I need help,” Clint Ingram is quoted saying in the affidavit. “Call the ambulance, my dad is on the floor.”

Deputies arrived and found Luke Ingram in the living room standing next to the victim's bloodied body on the floor, according to the affidavit.

Luke Ingram was arrested after refusing orders and struggling with deputies, the affidavit stated.

He was taken to the State Attorney’s Office at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell. He was placed in an interview room where he was staring and not responding to most questions, the affidavit stated. No questions were asked about the incident, the affidavit stated.

'Who did I kill?'

Detectives obtained a search warrant and were in the process of taking DNA samples, blood swabs and a blood test from Luke Ingram when the teen asked “Who did I kill” and “Who did I almost kill,” the affidavit stated.

Luke Ingram then tried to flee and struggled with deputies despite being handcuffed, the affidavit stated. He bit and tried to bite law enforcement officers, the affidavit stated.

Luke Ingram threatened to kill law enforcement officers multiple times, the affidavit stated.

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Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly in a press release noted the violence in the case.

“The information gathered by our detectives during this case revealed just how gruesome and violently he murdered one family member and severely attacked another and then attacked our deputies,” Staly stated.

Staly praised the work of detectives and prosecutors in the investigation.

“This was a team effort to seek justice for the victims and I hope he spends the rest of his life in prison, if he doesn’t face the death penalty,” Staly stated.

The State Attorney’s Office has not filed any notice that it intends to seek the death penalty.

Daytona Beach man indicted in November homicide

In the Volusia County case, Zion Counts, 22, of Daytona Beach, was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder (firearm) and possession of a firearm by convicted felon.

Counts is accused of killing a 26-year-old man following an argument on Nov. 14 in an apartment complex parking lot.

Counts is accused of shooting Timothy Seamore Jr. near 841 Magnolia Ave. in Daytona Beach, police said. Seamore fell to the ground. Counts then stood over him and shot him in the head, police said.

Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Dunton is the state prosecutor in the case against Ingram. Assistant State Attorney Heatha Trigones is the state prosecutor in the case against Counts.

Both men face mandatory life in prison if convicted on the first-degree murder charge.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Charges in deadly Palm Coast attack upgraded to first-degree murder