A Duval County jury has found William Bell Jr. guilty in a violent home invasion that left one man dead and another victim assaulted.
Bell was convicted of second-degree murder, armed robbery, battery, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. He now faces up to life in prison. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date by Judge Jonathan Sacks.
The case stems from a November 30, 2023 welfare check after the victim’s employer reported he had not shown up for work. Officers responded to an apartment on Merrill Road and found the door partially open. Inside, they discovered the victim on the floor with his hands and legs bound, a plastic bag over his head, and a cord wrapped around his neck.
Investigators determined the apartment had been ransacked.
According to testimony, two nights before the attack, someone knocked on the victim’s door, yelled, and disabled exterior cameras before leaving. The following night, Bell and a female accomplice forced their way into the apartment.
The victim’s girlfriend told investigators she was instructed to go into a bedroom. When she later came out, she found Bell tying up the victim. The accomplice stole items from the apartment while Bell assaulted the woman.
Prosecutors said Bell struck the victim’s girlfriend with a gun, sexually assaulted her, bit her, and attempted to strangle her with a cord. He also forced her to record a video stating her full name as a means of intimidation.
DNA evidence collected from the victim’s clothing matched Bell. Investigators also determined Bell and the victim knew each other and that the victim owed Bell money.
The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office.
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