Grand jury hands up first-degree murder indictment in South Daytona slaying

Courtesy photo/VCSO mug shot.

James Stevens, 27, of Deltona, charged Friday with first-degree murder in the beating death of his stepfather, Francis Ahern, 56, two days earlier, has now been indicted on the felony charge.

DELAND -- A Volusia County grand jury handed up an indictment Monday charging a 27-year-old Deltona man with the beating death of his stepfather, according to the State Attorney's Office.

The indictment by a Volusia County grand jury against James Stevens, 27, in the slaying of his stepfather Friday in the victim's Deltona home was confirmed by State Attorney spokesman Christopher Kelly.

The State Attorney;'s Office has not yet announced whether it will seek the death penalty, but if convicted of first-degree murder, Stevens would receive a mandatory life sentence.

Stevens was covered in blood, from head to toe, Sheriff;s spokesman Gary Davidson said of the only suspect considered in Wednesday's beating death.

"While not admitting to the murder, Stevens would eventually acknowledge that there was no home invasion, no one else entered or left the bedroom where his stepfather was killed and that the blood on him 'looks bad.'” Davidson said.

During its examination of the victim’s body, the Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that Ahern died of strangulation, both by hands and the bloody power cord. They also concluded that the victim sustained no fewer than 13 blows to the head, although they weren’t fatal.