Winter Haven Man Charged With Thanksgiving Slaying

LAKE WALES, FL — A Winter Haven man with a lengthy criminal history was arrested in connection with the Thanksgiving slaying of 45-year-old Stephen Edward Roberts in Lake Wales. Steven Nicholas Hunt was charged with first-degree murder and a lesser offense after allegedly insisting that the victim had been suffering and asked to "put him out of his misery." Roberts was shot to death in his home in the 5500 block of Lake Buffum Road.

"While most people in the county were enjoying a holiday meal with their families and loved ones on Thanksgiving day, a senseless murder was taking place in Lake Wales," explained Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "Our deputies, detectives, and crime scene investigators worked throughout the day and well into the night on this case."

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Judd described Hunt as a "violent convicted felon" and praised the quick work of his deputies in making the arrest.

Hunt's criminal history includes 16 previous felonies and 10 misdemeanor charges; seven felony and six misdemeanor convictions, including battery domestic violence, resisting arrest, burglary, larceny, grand theft of a firearm, dealing in stolen property, possession of meth and possession of marijuana. His most recent arrest on Nov. 7 was for domestic violence. He was released on Nov. 14, just eight days before the murder.

In addition to murder, Hunt of the 1000 block of 31st Street NW, was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He was being held without bond pending his first appearance in court on Saturday.

According to court documents, a woman told police that she and Hunt traveled with Roberts to a Walmart store prior to the murder.

When they returned, the woman saw Hunt and Roberts talking in a bedroom.

"She walked past them to another bedroom and observed the victim holding a handgun," according to court documents. "While in the other bedroom, she heard a noise that sounded like a firecracker and realized it was a gunshot."

The woman told police she discovered Roberts suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

"The suspect then grabbed the victim and told her he shot the victim. The suspect then reached over the victim and picked up the handgun from the bed," according to court documents. "The suspect told the witness 'he (victim) was tired of hurting all day long, and he didn't want to hurt like that.'"

Hunt and the woman left in a truck. The woman told police she saw a handgun on the floor of the vehicle.

"The suspect then picked up the handgun and held it with him," court documents said. "She saw the suspect moving around in the passenger seat and believed he threw the gun out of the window after leaving the residence. The suspect told her to drive to the Circle K, and so she did."

Court documents said that the woman left Hunt at the gas station and called 9-1-1.

"Deputies responded to the incident location and found the victim obviously deceased with an apparent gunshot wound to his head," according to court documents. "Deputies also located the witness and Steven Hunt."

Hunt was taken into custody at the Pilot gas station across the street from the Circle K gas station where he was dropped off.

Court documents said Hunt gave multiple conflicting stories of the incident.

"The suspect initially stated he went to the Circle K with the witness and was not aware of what happened at the residence," court documents explained. "He then stated he suddenly remembered he was with the victim and the witness at the victim's residence when the victim was shot."

Hunt allegedly insisted that Roberts shot himself after asking Hunt to pull the trigger. "The victim asked him to put him out of his misery," Hunt allegedly told police. "The victim eventually told the suspect to leave and close the door. The suspect closed the door and took a few steps down the hallway when he heard a gunshot."

Hunt told police he picked up the gun and tried to shoot Roberts when he saw that the victim was still alive "however he did not know where, or if he shot the victim. He put the handgun in his left pocket and exited the residence with the witness. He traveled with the witness in her vehicle to the aforementioned Circle K," court documents said.

Hunt also allegedly told police that he did not remember what he did with the handgun.

"The victim was observed lying on the bed near the doorway with his legs hanging off the bed. The victim's arms were bent and pulled up to his chest," according to court documents. "Two gunshot wounds were observed on the right side of the victim's face. A pillow was located next to the victim's head with a bullet hole through it."

Investigators found two spent .40 caliber shell casings near the victim.

"During a clarifying interview, the suspect then gave another description of the shooting. He maintained the victim continued to ask him to shoot him (the victim)," according to court documents. "The suspect put the gun into the pillow on the victim's head. He pulled the trigger and shot the victim."

Photo courtesy Polk County Sheriff's Office