34-Year-Old Lakeland Man Accused Of Killing Couple As They Slept

LAKELAND FL — A 34-year-old Lakeland man has been accused of killing a married couple in Haines City two weeks ago and hiding their bodies in a swampy area behind their home.

"We received information that a lady was trying to sell a truck for $200," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said on Saturday. "She actually was telling people that the victim was shot in the head and was dead — and they needed to get rid of his truck."

Todd Michael Jackson was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of 33-year-old Raymond Mark Cline and 37-year-old Crystal Ann Cline in the 3500 block of Windy Hill Road.

"They were in bed asleep " Judd said. "Our suspect, Todd Jackson, who is 34-years-old, goes into the bedroom while they are asleep and murders them both."

Judd said Jackson and another man, identified as 19-year-old Larry Waters Jr., placed the bodies on a furniture dolly and wheeled them to the swampy area. Jackson was described as an acquaintance of the couple, who had access to the property.

"According to our witnesses, and our co-defendants, Todd Jackson is the one that fired the fatal shots into the body of Mark and Crystal while they were sound asleep in their home," Judd said.

Judd identified the woman who attempted to sell the truck as 19-year-old Amberlyn Nicole Nichols, who lived with the couple with Waters.

Waters and Nichols were each charged with accessory after the fact and failing to report a death. Nichols was also charged with dealing in stolen property.

"She walks us back into the swamp and points out the two deceased victims," Judd said of Nichols.

Jackson was arrested near his home in the 1000 block of Plateau Avenue in the Wabash area of Lakeland Saturday.

"He was taken into custody without incident," the sheriff's office said. Jackson made his first court appearance on Sunday and is being held without bail.

The sheriff's office said the Cline's had not been seen or heard from since Feb. 21.

"Raymond Cline and Crystal Cline were unable to be reached by phone since that time, and family members had not seen nor heard from either one in several weeks," the sheriff's office said.

Nichols told investigators Raymond Cline owed or stole money from Jackson.

"Detectives have also interviewed a person who claimed he/she was at the residence when Raymond and Crystal Cline were murdered," the sheriff's office said. "The witness said he/she observed Todd Jackson pointing a ... handgun at the victims and then shoot both victims."