DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Charges have been upgraded for the man accused of attacking two men working on a vacant Volusia County house last week, severely beating and killing one of the men.
The attack happened in the 200 block of Jefferson Street in Daytona Beach.
Both men suffered critical injuries and were taken to a hospital, officials said. Their names and ages have not yet been released.
Daytona Beach police said a 32-year-old man who lives next door, identified as Arenthius Jenkins, attacked the men. He was taken into police custody and charges of aggravated assault and aggravated battery were filed. Charges were upgraded to second-degree murder after one of the victims, identified as Billy Ford, died on Tuesday.
Family members of Jenkins said he has psychological issues, including hearing voices and hallucinations. They also said they have recently tried to get him help and took him to the hospital Thursday twice to get checked out. The family told News 6 they went to court Friday morning to try to get Jenkins committed under the Baker Act.
"Since the death of his cousin that happened last month in March, he ain't been right ever since," said Takeisha Smart, a family friend. "He got another cousin that got killed two years prior to that. He got a lot going on within himself."
Jenkins' mother said her son is a good person, but has been suffering from mental issues for a while.
"He didn't say anything to me. He was in the police car. He did say, 'mama, I love you' and I told him 'I love you too,'" said Cheryl Barron.
Jenkins has a previous criminal history.
Jenkins bond has been set at $301,000.
No other details have been released.
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