Victim's parents relieved; lawyer promises appeal
BY KEYONNA SUMMERS
FLORIDA TODAY
The family of a Melbourne woman murdered by her boyfriend's mentally ill twin brother shed tears and breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday as the killer was sentenced to two life prison terms without the possibility of parole.
Though attorneys for Travis Lee Edwards said appeals are forthcoming, victim Karen Muscovitz's parents, Arnie and Alice Muscovitz, said they are glad their ordeal since their daughter's death is over for now.
"It took all the weight off my shoulders," Arnie Muscovitz said after the sentencing. "Six years and 16 days, it's finally over. I can sleep now."
A jury found Edwards guilty in October of first-degree premeditated murder for the January 2004 strangling and beating death of 27-year-old Karen Muscovitz.
Edwards, 39 and a diagnosed schizophrenic, also was found guilty of kidnapping for holding hostage for two days a friend of Muscovitz's who dropped by the home the evening of the murder.
Since prosecutors waived the death penalty, the murder conviction meant an automatic life sentence for Edwards. The kidnapping charge carried a minimum sentence of 10 years.
Prosecutors on Wednesday dropped a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Defense attorneys had argued that Edwards was legally insane at the time of the incident, and believed that Karen Muscovitz was a spy with a mob organization trying to kill him and his sibling.
Edwards' brother and guardian, Brent Edwards, was in jail at the time of the killing.
"I thank you for the sentence," Edwards told Circuit Judge Charles Holcomb on Wednesday, before turning around to look back at his mother in the courtroom gallery as he was led out.
The case was fraught with competency issues that several times postponed the trial, hearings leading up to it and sentencing.
Defense attorney Kepler Funk said his firm will file documents within the next two weeks appealing several of the judge's orders.
"I hear juries speak loud and I'll hear this verdict for the rest of my life," Funk said. "I believe Travis belongs in Chattahoochee (state mental hospital) rather than a state prison."
The Muscovitzes, who estimate they spent more than $30,000 over the last six years traveling between Florida and Massachusetts for hearings, said they'll never forget the case either.
Edwards never showed remorse, instead using his time to speak to the judge during sentencing Wednesday to blast his lawyers, they said.
"This weekend is our 40th wedding anniversary, so this is a nice present," Alice Muscovitz said.
"I wish she was here to celebrate with us," she said. "She is."
Contact Summers at 242-3642 or ksummers@floridatoday.com.
He does not belong in a mental hospital! It is a tragedy that he took a life. I worked with him at a job. He actually assaulted me a few years before he committed this murder and kidnapping. When i tried to press charges. The police weren't interested untill they ran his name and seen his record. After filing, all that happened was he was notified that i had filed charges against him for assaulting me. Let me be clear about something! I looked in his eye's after he assaulted me! I seen that killer in him! No doubt he is where he belongs with no chance of getting out!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to throw up when i seen the appeals and the claim that he has found GOD. No sir you are with the devil! And he is in you, I Seen it first hand believe that. I seriously believe capital punishment should have been applied.
ReplyDeleteyep dude is a couple sandwiches shy of a picnic i will never forget the look in his eyes when he said "if you try to escape i will kill you but i won't shoot you" was very eerie he also said i was a "prophet who came to take Karen from him". i will carry this heavy experience with me for the rest of my life. i agree with you on his punishment because he lives better now than he did before this incident and in a mental institution three miles from my home
ReplyDeleteI've known travis my whole life.travis would never hurt a fly.he was kind hearted and very respectful.hes my kids God father and I believe that he is innocent.i just received a letter and birthday card from him.hes actually doing really good and good to church Everytime they have service.so all y'all need to stop bashing him if u don't know the true facts.and even if u know the true facts or not.u shouldn't be talking about what happened and stop bashing him....PERIOD
ReplyDeleteI knew Travis from school..inused to have a crush on him..he would never mess around though..shy..he did get a bit strange in the end..always hiding in his room..wondered what ever happened to his brother..would like to touch base..Brent edwards..
ReplyDeleteHe got what he deserved but he should have been put down like a bad dog Karen never did anything bad to anyone she was an awesome person and loved by all she will be always missed I loved her like a sister with that said I’ve heard stories that Travis would answer the door with a pistol pressed against the door while you were outside asking for Karen or Brent yeah keep him in prison
ReplyDeleteNO! He did not get what he deserved I just learned days ago the state erred and set him free one year ago to his family
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