Last co-defendant sentenced in 2007 murder

State Attorney for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, R. J. Larizza, announced to local Historic City News reporters that the last of three co-defendants in a December 2007 murder has entered her plea and been sentenced for her part in the crime.

On March 23, 2009, a Grand Jury indicted Mundy on the charge of principal to first-degree murder.

Yesterday, in the case of State of Florida vs. 43 year-old Barbara Jean Mundy of Palatka, Circuit Judge Carlos Mendoza accepted Mundy’s plea to a felony charge of “accessory after the fact to first-degree murder” for her role in Christmas 2007 killing of Myrtle McKinney.

Mundy cooperated in the investigation and gave truthful testimony in two separate trials against her co-defendants, Lowe and Cheek. Her testimony of the events surrounding McKinney’s death was corroborated by other evidence introduced at trial, resulting in the convictions for First Degree Murder.

Her two co-defendants, Quritus Trelane Lowe, II and Gytonia Jean Cheek, have already been found guilty of murder by juries and sentenced to life in prison.

Last month, 31-year-old Cheek was convicted of First Degree Murder, Robbery with a Deadly Weapon; and Burglary with a Dangerous Weapon. Circuit Judge Terry LaRue sentenced Cheek to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In December, a jury also found Lowe guilty of First Degree Murder, Robbery and Burglary; however, the jury declined to return a recommendation for the death penalty. Lowe was then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Mendoza sentenced Mundy to approximately 3 years in jail — followed by 5 years of probation.

Due to extensive news coverage in Putnam County, the case was moved to Flagler County.