Prosecutors announced charges in two Palm Bay homicide cases Wednesday, including one involving a teenager accused of killing her mother and her mother’s boyfriend.
In that case, Palm Bay detectives began investigating when Kelley McCollom, 41, and McCollom’s boyfriend, Matthew Szejnrok, 22, were found inside the Benchor Road home with multiple gunshot wounds on the morning of July 7.
Julia Egler, McCollum’s 16-year-old daughter, allegedly called 911 claiming someone had broken into the house.
Investigators discovered that McCollum was shot to death and Szejnrok was stabbed multiple times and shot before succumbing to his injuries. Authorities say Egler initially claimed an intruder had killed the couple, but later admitted he had shot both victims.
Police reported that on the night of July 6, the teenager stole a .38 caliber handgun from her mother’s bedroom. She put the gun and a knife in her pockets and waited for the pair to return home.
When the couple arrived home a short time later, Egler said, “Welcome home,” before pulling out his gun and shooting McCollom several times, records show. She then pointed the gun at Szejnrok, who was begging the teen to stop. Egler then followed Szejnrok into the bathroom, where she stabbed him repeatedly with a chef’s knife and shot him again, according to police reports.
Although initially charged as a juvenile, the State Attorney’s Office announced along with the indictment that she would be tried as an adult. According to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and Florida statute, the teenager will not be eligible for the death penalty.
In the other Palm Bay case being tried, police said 23-year-old Brandon Cain called 911 on July 3, claiming he had shot his 52-year-old father in self-defense after an argument. Security footage from the home allegedly showed the elder Daniel Cain Jr. sitting outside alone when his son approached him carrying a firearm before shooting and killing him, prosecutors said.
Brandon Cain is also on trial for first-degree premeditated murder.
Tyler Vazquez is the Brevard County and North Brevard Watchdog reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vázquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Palm Bay, 16, indicted on charges of premeditated murder in double homicide
