Arrest Made In Christmas Eve Kidnapping, Murder

February 13, 2013

An Escambia County man has been arrested in the 2012 Christmas Eve kidnapping and murder of a Pensacola man.

Trevon Nelson, 28,  was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon. He was charged with an open count of homicide, false imprisonment, four counts of false imprisonment of a child under age 13, burglary, grand theft vehicle, and evidence tampering.

“This case has been a top priority for us since the kidnapping was reported on Christmas Eve,” said Chief Chip W. Simmons. “There was a lot of time and effort that went into this investigation, and we want to thank the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, State Attorney’s Office and Gun Crime Response Team for their assistance.”

Around 2:45 a.m. December 24, Torrance Hackworth, 32, arrived at his residence at 1321 North J Street and was approached by several males who forced him into the apartment, bound him with duct tape and held him in the apartment.

One of the males awakened Hackworth’s 36-year-old girlfriend and their four children, ranging in age from four to 10, and ordered them at gunpoint into the living room. As all six residents were held hostage, the suspects ransacked the house, demanded money and stole various items, said Detective James Parsons.

When Hackworth insisted he didn’t have any money because he had bought Christmas presents for the children, the suspects said they were going to kill him. The suspects beat and struck Hackworth several times with a firearm in front of the woman and children before dragging him outside and putting him into the trunk of the woman’s vehicle which they used to flee the scene, Parsons said.

Approximately two to three hours after the abduction, the woman’s vehicle was found partially submerged at the Sanders Beach boat launch. Hackworth, who had been shot several times, was later found December 27 deceased in a vacant lot in the 1600 block of North S Street.

Nelson was identified during the investigation, and more arrests are pending, Parsons said.

Comments

4 Responses to “Arrest Made In Christmas Eve Kidnapping, Murder”

  1. melodies4us on February 14th, 2013 8:59 pm

    This is a perfect example of someone that should get the death penalty. And what’s up with them taking years to execute the inmates on death row? They should be brought straight from the courtroom to the guillotine. The execution should interupt all stations and be mandatorally televised.

  2. Jane on February 14th, 2013 5:26 am

    Good job LEOs! Let’s hope the judge doesn’t let this one off easily!

  3. Abe on February 13th, 2013 7:13 am

    Good Job LEO’s! I’m sure the rest will be behind bars soon. I wonder what his bond was? $6500? I doubt it was much by the bonds I’ve been seeing lately.

    How can anyone be so cold and indifferent? It would be bad on any day but in front of the children and on Christmas Eve? Good luck getting the judge and jurors to show mercy when you showed none.

  4. Taylor on February 13th, 2013 6:18 am

    I am pleased to hear one person in this gang of thugs has been arrested. Too many stupid crimes. I hope the rest are caught soon.
    My prayers to the family left behind.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News