A Georgia woman was arrested and charged with the murder of an elderly couple at a senior living community in Mount Dora, Florida on New Year’s Eve.
Vickie Williams, 50, was seen virtually in court on Saturday, and ordered to be held without bail at the Lake County Jail for the murders of 83-year-old Darryl Getman and 80-year-old Shannon Getman, residents of the Watertown Village Retirement Community.
Police said they initially arrested Williams and charged her with theft of a vehicle for allegedly stealing the couple’s car, but later upgraded the charges.
Police didn’t release details about how the couple died and didn’t disclose a motive for the murders. According to the police the suspect did not know the victims.
During a press conference, the Interim Police Chief for Mount Dora, Mike Gibson, said that on December 30, security officers working for the senior living community escorted Williams out of the complex for trespassing. She was spotted several times on the premises on December 30 and 31 and had been involved in several incidents.
After being escorted out of the retirement community by security on December 31, Williams stayed in the area. At around 11 pm that night, she knocked on a door of one of the apartments and asked a resident if she could take a shower in her home.
The female tenant panicked and pressed an alarm button, and Williams fled the scene with a set of keys that she grabbed near the door.
Early the next morning, at around 2 am, surveillance footage recorded a green Kia Soul, which belonged to the Getmans, leaving the community building.
About 14 hours later, at around 4 pm on December 31, the Getmans were found dead inside their home.
Police began tracking down the Getmans’ stolen vehicle and found it in 250 miles away in Savannah, Georgia with the thief inside. They arrested Williams on Tuesday for stealing the couple’s car but not for murder.
Police Chief Gibson said at the time they caught her in the stolen car, they were still working on probable cause, adding that they had not found any connection between the Getmans and Williams, and that the suspect had no connection to Mount Dora or Central Florida.
According to Gibson, it appeared to be a random crime.
Williams was eventually charged with the couple’s death.
The Getmans are survived by their two children – a son and daughter – and their grandchildren. They lived in Mount Dora for over 20 years.
Their heartbroken children released a statement saying no words describe the tragedy for their family and the community. The children said the two seniors had been enjoying their golden years with their friends before they were murdered.
Williams was charged with two first-degree murder counts and one count of grand theft of a vehicle. She will appear in court on January 30.