Jordan faces capital charges – bail denied

When first appearance hearings began this morning at 8:30 a.m., Historic City News learned that Latoya Korren Jordan was officially charged with the willful homicide of Fruit Cove resident Daniel Stuart Somerson.

The charges against 24 year-old Jordan constitute a capital felony — punishable by lethal injection.

Community Affairs Coordinator, Sergeant Charles E. Mulligan, explained to Historic City News this morning that during “first appearance” before a judge, the purpose is “generally a reading of the charges and for bond to be set, if any was given”.

In Jordan’s case, bail was denied.

Jordan was transferred back to St. Johns County yesterday after being taken into custody Thursday in the Bay County community of Fountain; near Panama City, where she was living with a 52 year-old man.

53 year-old Somerson, one of several men in their 50’s who investigators say Jordan found through personal ads placed on the Internet website “Craigslist”, was the only murder victim, as far as we know, at this time.

St. Johns County Sheriff David B. Shoar told Historic City News reporters, “When contacted by detectives, Jordan admitted her involvement in the Fruit Cove murder.”

Detectives believe that Jordan remained in the Fruit Cove home “for some unknown period of time” after she killed Somerson. She is said to have used the time to locate a man in the Tampa area; again through a personal ad on “Craigslist”.

“She has been with at least four other men since she left St. Johns County,” the sheriff reported. “We have all benefited from the power of the Internet, but, this is one example of technology being used in a very bad way.”