Boyles convicted on murder and kidnapping charges

State Attorney R. J. Larizza informed Historic City News that Justin Adam Boyles, the 27-year-old Palm Coast man indicted earlier this year, has been convicted on second degree murder and kidnapping charges yesterday. The St. Johns County jury, made up of 9 women and 3 men, began deliberating around 1:00 p.m. yesterday. They returned with the guilty verdicts soon after 8:00 p.m.

Along with Co-Defendant Charles Massey who testified against him during the trial, Boyles was found to have tortured and beaten to death 54-year-old Edward Scott Mullener, also of Palm Coast. Evidence presented at trial shows that Boyles became angry with Mullener over his relationship with a woman that Boyles was also involved with romantically.

The defendants set the victim and his vehicle ablaze in the Flagler Estates neighborhood. Police found Mullener in the trunk.

Assistant State Attorney Chris Miller, of the State Attorney’s Homicide Unit, prosecuted the case with Assistant State Attorney Travis Mydock. Seventh Circuit Judge J. Michael Traynor presided over the case.

Boyles will face life-in-prison when he returns to court for sentencing in mid-January. Massey previously admitted to his role in the slaying and awaits sentencing on second degree murder charges on January 6, 2016.