Bio

Joshua David Nelson was born on January 16, 1977. He grew up in Florida. He was raised in Lee County, where he lived until adulthood.

Murder Story

On March 10, 1995, Joshua David Nelson and his accomplice, Keith Brennan, planned to murder Tommy Owens. Their aim was to steal Owens' vehicle in order to escape the city of Cape Coral, Florida. They knew that Owens kept a baseball bat in his car and devised a scheme to lure him to a secluded street.

Once Owens arrived, they convinced him to leave his car. Nelson struck Owens with the baseball bat multiple times, causing him to fall to the ground. After this, they tied Owens' arms and legs. Despite Owens begging for his life and offering to give up his car, Nelson and Brennan decided to kill him to avoid being caught.

Brennan attempted to slice Owens' throat with a box cutter. Even while being harmed, Owens asked Nelson to hit him again with the baseball bat to knock him unconscious before Brennan continued. Nelson complied, and Brennan resumed stabbing Owens. They struck him several more times before dragging his body into nearby bushes.

After the murder, they took Owens' car and picked up two women, Tina and Misty Porth. They left Cape Coral and drove to New Jersey, stopping in Daytona on the way. During the trip, Nelson and Brennan told Tina and Misty about the murder.

Soon after, law enforcement officers caught up with them in New Jersey. Nelson confessed to the murder in both video and audio recordings. He provided details about the crime, which were used as evidence in court. A DNA match was found on Nelson’s shoes and other items linked to the murder of Owens.

Both Nelson and Brennan faced trial together. On November 7, 1996, the jury found them guilty. The jury recommended the death penalty for Nelson, which was officially given on November 27, 1996. Nelson appealed the decision, but his claims were rejected by the Florida Supreme Court, and his sentence was upheld.