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Detectives: Largo man murdered two campers "just to kill someone"


Leo Boatman

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By:Alexandra Hackett

Gainesville, Florida - Detectives say a Largo man killed two young campers, just because he wanted to kill someone. They say 19-year-old Leo Boatman didn't even know the 26-year-old college students.


Boatman allegedly told friends he wanted to be a serial killer, but investigators were able to find the 19-year-old Largo man at his trailer park home before he was able to kill again.

Sheriff Ed Dean, Marion County:
"The senseless brutal killing of Amber Peck and John Parker has now been brought to conclusion, because we have determined the killer's identity."


Marion County Sheriff Ed Dean says it was a motorist who actually led them to Boatman. Twenty-year-old Joe Tierney of Lake County was driving through the Ocala National Forest a week ago when he came along Boatman, who was looking for a ride.

Captain Tommy Bibb, Marion County Sheriff's Office:
"He stopped to help this individual, who asked if he could use his cell phone to call a cab so he could go to a motel, because he was cold and he had hurt his foot."


Tierney says he drove Boatman into Silver Springs and dropped him off at a Holiday Inn. Investigators were able to track him to another nearby motel.

Police also recovered a rifle Boatman had allegedly stolen and then returned. Deputies flew the rifle to Jacksonville, where ballistics test confirmed it had been used to shoot the couple.

Major Chris Blair, Marion County Sheriff's Office:
"We promised the family we were going to be dedicated to this task and we were going to bring in the killer of these victims."


Amber Marie Peck and John Parker left more than a week ago to camp in the Ocala National Forest. They told family members they would return the next day. When they didn't, family members went to search for them. They were found shot to death on Saturday.

Boatman has already been transported back to Marion County to face murder charges. The couple's bodies were found just miles from where the campers had parked their car at the Ocala National Forest.

The two victims were both students at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville.

Alexandra Hackett, Tampa Bay's 10 News


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