Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1, before switching to the Top 5 storylines -- the good, the bad & the ugly on the horizon in "2022: The Year That Lies Ahead."
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A homeless man is arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of another homeless man in downtown Daytona Beach back in August, cops said.
The Daytona Beach Police Department took 49-year-old David M. Mordecai into custody early in the morning of Aug. 21, 2021, in the bludgeoning death of Patrick Furman shortly after cops arrived at the scene on Magnolia Avenue just west of Beach Street. The victim, Furman, like Mordecai, was living on the streets of Daytona. Both were well known to the police.
Volusia County emergency dispatch received a phone call at 12:40 a.m. that day from a witness who claimed that he was walking through the area when he spotted Mordecai standing over the victim, who was motionless on the ground.
First responders arrived on the scene within minutes, discovering that the victim – a 56-year-old Furman – had substantial facial injuries and a belt around his neck. He was also not breathing, so life-saving measures were attempted but unsuccessful. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mordecai was found on the scene by officers standing at the feet of the victim's body with no apparent injuries. Also discovered at the scene were a broken skateboard and a metal bicycle lock, both of which had blood on them from the victim's head and face, which were bloodied. Investigators believe Mordecai used both items in the fatal attack.
The motive for the attack was not clear, but it appears that Mordecai and the victim knew one another and had been drinking with each other in the hours before Furman was bludgeoned to death.
Update on the Criminal Case:
David M. Mordecai (DOB: June 25, 1972) was found incompetent to proceed in the homicide case against him on Dec. 6, 2021, and involuntarily committed to a state psychiatric treatment facility for treatment. Should Mordecai at some point, be found competent to stand trial, he faces a sentence of life in prison, if convicted of second-degree murder.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.