Photo: Polk County Sheriff's Office
He asked what it would be like to kill someone just days before.
By Sarah Gangraw — Written on Mar 22, 2018
A 16-year-old boy beat another teen to death with a baseball bat because he was dating a girl he liked.
Dillen Murray, 16, was charged with first-degree murder after he killed 15-year-old Giovanni Diaz out of jealousy in Lake Wales, Florida, on Monday.
“This child was brutally murdered by a 16-year-old with a baseball bat," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "There is no reasonable excuse for this. Zero. None. It should never have happened."
Murray texted Diaz telling him to meet him at “the rocks” to smoke marijuana, Judd said during a news conference.
Once in the woods, he confronted him about a girl Diaz was in a relationship with and the situation escalated.
“And Gio says, ‘What are you going to do, hit me with that bat?’ And that’s when Dillen started to hit Gio with the bat,” Judd said.
Murray hit him with a baseball bat, knocking him back, Judd said. He then struck Diaz with the bat at least nine more times in the head and face until he died.
Murray asked someone who witnessed the violent attack, “I just hit my friend with a baseball bat. What do I do?”
The witness told him to go home and call 911.
“He tried to attack me and then me and him got into a fight but I had a baseball bat,” Murray said.
The witness then went into the woods and discovered Diaz’s body.
Murray went home and called 911 around 3 p.m. on Monday. He could be heard in the background speaking to his father about Diaz.
“Help me. Gio tried to kill me and I think I killed him,” he can be heard saying. “I’m not playing, Dad. He attacked me in the woods.”
At first, Murray told officers he killed Diaz in self-defense but later changed his story.
Judd said Murray eventually admitted that he was mad that Diaz had “relations” with a girl he was “in love” with, the Bradenton Herald reports.
Murray lured Diaz into the woods where he proceeded to beat him to death. The suspected killer “referred to them as friends," but said Diaz “made him mad” by dating a girl he had a crush on.
Days before Murray killed the 15-year-old, Judd said he told a friend, “I wonder what it’s like to murder someone.”
Murray’s Facebook had troubling images posted, including a murderous clown and a photo of the Joker covered in blood, WFTV reports.
“Giovanni Diaz was a true joy to teach,” Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd said in a statement. “He was happy and fun-loving, intelligent and analytical. He and his principal used to play a game at lunchtime. Giovanni had a Rubik’s Cube, and Principal Windham would mix up the colors and watch as Giovanni once again solved the puzzle.
“Giovanni had a very bright future ahead of him that ended brutally, senselessly, and much too soon. The Diaz family is in our hearts and prayers."
Judd said Murray "has absolutely no previous run-ins with the law” but has been charged with two counts of battery, one of which involved Diaz. He also was previously charged with domestic battery for allegedly attacking his father, according to ABC News.
Murray is charged with first-degree murder, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police have requested he be tried as an adult.
He is being held at the Juvenile Assessment Center.