A jury in Osceola County has found 56-year-old Kevin Walter Duda guilty of first-degree murder, resulting in a life prison sentence handed down on January 29, 2026.
The conviction stems from a deadly shooting that occurred on June 12, 2024. Deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office responded to the entrance of the Ponderosa RV Park on Fortune Road after receiving reports of an unresponsive man lying on the ground. The victim, identified as Nicholas Brank, 44, was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Investigators determined that Duda and Brank knew each other and had been involved in a verbal dispute roughly a year prior to the shooting. On the day of the incident, detectives say a confrontation occurred after Duda obtained a handgun and encountered Brank. Evidence presented at trial showed Brank was unarmed and unable to defend himself when he was shot.
Duda was identified as the suspect, located in the area, and arrested. Homicide detectives conducted an extensive investigation that included surveillance video, witness statements, and the recovery of the murder weapon, all of which played a key role in securing the conviction.
Sheriff’s officials credited the work of homicide detective Benjamin Maclean and the entire homicide unit for their diligence and thorough investigation, which ultimately led to a successful prosecution and life sentence in the case.
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