DAYTONA BEACH MEDIA SUMMARIES ON
Trial of Matthew Armitage for murder of John Felty

Daytona Beach News-Journal
Sun, 26 Jan 2003

Here is the Daytona News Report. I visited with my son today at Tomoka... He said the guy that killed Felty was known as "crazy".

Daytona Beach News-Journal Online (http://www.news-journalonline.com)

Tomoka authorities label death of inmate suspicious
Michael Giusti
Staff Writer  michael.giusti@news-jrnl.com

September 24, 2001; Page 03C
Article ID: 0109240127

A Clearwater inmate was found dead in a common area near his cell Sunday morning by corrections officers at Tomoka Correctional Institution, a state spokesman said.

John Felty, 35, was serving a 15-year sentence for vehicular homicide, said Sterling Ivey, communications director for the Department of Corrections in Tallahassee. Felty's body was found at 7:30 a.m. Ivey said he was not sure how Felty was killed, but said the death was "suspicious."

Complete article (409 words). $2.95

Inmate may be charged in prisoner's death

Staff Writer Paul Nutcher
September 26, 2001; Page 03C
Article ID: 0109260167

Charges are pending against an inmate who is suspected of killing another prisoner during a fight at Tomoka Correctional Institution, authorities said Tuesday.

"We know who the inmate was and who the suspect is and we will be charging him," said David Donaway, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement supervisor.

Donaway declined to identify the suspect or the motive behind the attack because several interviews with witnesses have yet to be completed before the case is ready to be...

Charges expected soon in Tomoka prison death
Paul Nutcher
Staff Writer
October 9, 2001; Page 02C
Article ID: 0110090227

A prisoner serving a life sentence is the prime suspect in the slaying of a fellow inmate at Tomoka Correctional Institution, authorities said Monday.

Mathew Armitage will likely be charged within two weeks in connection with the beating death of the inmate, said David Donaway with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

"We are going to seek the death penalty in this case," said Donaway, a special agent supervisor with the department.

Homicide cases lead to three indictments

Paul Nutcher
Staff Writer
October 26, 2001; Page 04C
Article ID: 0110260264

Three people were indicted on first-degree murder charges Thursday by a Volusia County grand jury considering evidence in two separate homicides.

Mathew Armitage was charged in the Sept. 23 slaying of a fellow inmate at Tomoka Correctional Institution in Daytona Beach, said Assistant State Attorney Ed Davis.

Meanwhile, Michael Winkler and girlfriend Carrie J. Wulff  were indicted for the May 15 killing of his stepfather, Charles Winkler, at the older Winkler's Oak Hill home...

Fight leaves inmate in critical condition

Patricio G. Balona
Staff Writer
June 13, 2002; Page 04C
Article ID: 0206130185

A fight inside a dorm at the Tomoka Correctional Institution on Tiger Bay Road landed an inmate in the hospital with serious injuries, authorities said.

Alexander J. Ferrar, 24, is in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at Halifax Medical Center, said hospital spokeswoman Kate Holcomb.

Ferrar was involved in an argument inside a dorm Tuesday afternoon with another inmate, Darrell Saffore, said Department of Corrections spokeswoman Debbie Buchanan.

January 14, 2003; Page 01C
Article ID: 0301140630

Jury selection begins in jail death case

DAYTONA BEACH -- Jury selection began Monday for an inmate at Tomoka Correctional Institution accused of first-degree murder in the killing of another inmate.

Matthew Armitage, 39, could face the death penalty if convicted of capital murder in the Sept. 23, 2001, beating death of fellow inmate John Felty of Clearwater.

The 35-year-old Felty, who was serving a 15-year sentence for vehicular homicide, was killed in his cell before 7:30 a.m.

Defendant erupts in anger during murder trial
http://www.n-jcenter.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/areaA4012403.htm

By HENRY FREDERICK
Staff Writer
Jan 23, 2003

DAYTONA BEACH -- A Tomoka Correctional Institution inmate accused of killing a fellow prisoner lost his composure Thursday when the prosecutor told the jury he deliberately beat his former lover to death.

Mathew Armitage's attorneys had to quiet him during closing arguments in his capital murder trial when Assistant State Attorney Celeste Gagne told the jury Armitage killed John Felty, 35, in a calculated manner.

Gagne recounted for the jury Armitage's demeanor after the killing. "This defendant was in control -- he had anger, not rage," "After he was taken away by officers, he washed his hands and got his dip" of tobacco.

Armitage, 39, blurted out in response, "She's starting to (expletive) me off."

Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson hunched forward on the bench as Armitage's attorneys, assistant public defenders Larry Henderson and Mitchell Novas, put their arms around him to calm him down.

Gagne described how Felty was repeatedly punched and kicked.

"He never said one word to the victim," Gagne said, "as the force of the blows broke every single bone in John Felty's face."

Gagne showed a series of gruesome autopsy photos of Felty's sunken face, the result of his nasal bones being pushed into his brain during the fatal beating on the morning of Sept. 23, 2001.

"One witness testified that it was like he was hitting a dead hog," Gagne said. "It was brutal, vicious murder.

"This defendant thinks the victim is flirting with another guy," she said, stomping her own right foot several times to imitate the killing. "That will teach you to (expletive) with me. I already have a life sentence."

The defense team told the jury the killing was an act of rage, not premeditation.

"He could have made up a story," Novas said. "He told the truth. It was in the heat of passion."

After Gagne's closing arguments in the trial, which began Jan. 13, the judge gave the jury a short break and cautioned Armitage: "Hopefully the moment has passed. You need to keep your voice down."

When closing arguments resumed, a fourth deputy was brought in to provide extra security.

Jury deliberations are expected to begin shortly after 9 a.m. today at the Justice Center on Ridgewood Avenue. The judge told jurors they would be sequestered if deliberations continued into the weekend. If Armitage is found guilty of first-degree murder, the penalty phase of the trial will determine whether he is sentenced to death or life in prison.

Armitage, of Orlando, is serving a life sentence for 1984 convictions of armed robbery and kidnapping. He did not take the stand and his attorneys did not call any witnesses on his behalf.

Felty, of Clearwater, had been serving a 15-year sentence for vehicular homicide.

The two inmates were lovers until days before the killing when Felty broke off the relationship, other inmates testified during the trial.

Armitage also is charged with burglary in the 7:30 a.m. attack because he entered Felty's cell without permission.

Five members of Felty's family attending Thursday's closing arguments wept as the autopsy photos were shown. No one from Armitage's family attended. Armitage told investigators his mother lives in Edgewater, but he hasn't seen her since he was imprisoned nearly 20 years ago.

hfrederick@news-jrnl.com

Inmate disrupts murder trial
Henry Frederick
Staff Writer
January 24, 2003; Page 01C
Article ID: 0301240391

A Tomoka Correctional Institution inmate accused of killing a fellow prisoner lost his composure Thursday when the prosecutor told the jury he deliberately beat his former lover to death.

Matthew Armitage's attorneys had to quiet him during closing arguments in his capital murder trial when Assistant State Attorney Celeste Gagne said Armitage killed John Felty, 35, in a calculated manner.

Gagne recounted Armitage's demeanor after the killing, "This defendant was in control

complete article (646 words). $2.95

---

Jury finds inmate guilty in lover's death
Henry Frederick
Staff Writer
January 25, 2003; Page 03C
Article ID: 0301250351

A jury found a Tomoka Correctional Institution inmate guilty Friday of capital murder in the beating death of a fellow prisoner, his former lover.

The verdict after five hours of deliberations sets the stage for a penalty phase during which the 12-member jury will recommend either death by lethal injection or life in prison without parole for 39-year-old Mathew Armitage.

Just a day earlier, Armitage caused a stir in the courtroom when he cursed at Assistant State Attorney Celeste Gagne

complete article (578 words). $2.95

---

February 1, 2003; Page 01C
Article ID: 0302040233

Judge asked to decide fate of murderer
DAYTONA BEACH -- A Tomoka Correctional Institution inmate found guilty of capital murder in the beating death of a fellow prisoner wants a judge to decide whether he receives life in prison or death.

A jury, earlier this month, found Mathew Armitage, 39, guilty of capital murder in the Sept. 23, 2001, beating death of his former lover, John Felty.

The jury was expected to convene March 10 to recommend punishment to Circuit Judge R. Michael...

---

Judge spares life of Tomoka prison murderer
Henry Frederick
Staff Writer
March 1, 2003; Page 03C
Article ID: 0303010566

A Tomoka Correctional Institution inmate was spared a death sentence Friday for the beating death of a fellow prisoner who had been his lover.

Mathew Armitage, 39, convicted of capital murder in the Sept. 23 attack on John Felty, showed no emotion when Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson sentenced him to life in prison.

The sentence means Armitage, who had been serving five concurrent life terms at the time of the murder, will not be eligible for parole.

---

(This information was current as of 9/23/01)   JOHN DEMITRIUS FELTY

DC Number:  520658 Name:  FELTY, JOHN D Race:  WHITE Sex:  MALE Hair Color:  BLACK Eye Color:  HAZEL Height:  5'07'' Weight:  139 Birth Date:  10/07/1965 Release Facility:  UNKNOWN-2 Current Custody:  CLOSE Release Date:  DECEASED

Current Prison Sentence History:
Offense Date	Offense	Sentence Date	County	Case No.	Prison Sentence Length
02/17/1991	VEHICLE HOMCID-NO AID/INFO	01/25/1994	HILLSBOROUGH	9102780	15Y 0M 0D
01/18/1994	RESISTING OFFICER W/VIOLEN.	04/04/1994	PINELLAS	9400744	1Y 6M 0D

DC Number:  094209 Name:  ARMITAGE, MATHEW E Race:  WHITE Sex:  MALE Hair Color:  BLONDE OR STRAWBERRY Eye Color:  BLUE Height:  6'01'' Weight:  253 Birth Date:  12/01/1963 Initial Receipt Date:  06/15/1984 Current Facility:  CFRC-MAIN Current Classification Status:  CM I Current Custody:  PENDING Current Release Date:  12/15/2096

JOHN FELTY

Tomoka Correctional Institution

MTWT Prison Index