Sheriff's Office makes arrests in homicide case

Sarasota County deputies have arrested three suspects in connection with a local fatal home invasion, and captured a fugitive wanted for murder in Fulton County, Ga.

The Sheriff’s Office charged 22-year-old Christian Theodore with second-degree murder and armed home invasion robbery after detectives questioned him Monday, according to a news release. Theodore was arrested for the Dec. 14 murder of Jonathan Jeffery, who was allegedly killed with a gunshot to the back of his head during a burglary at his home on the 5600 block of Summerside Lane.

Detectives used various surveillance video feeds to link Theodore to the home invasion, and implicate his girlfriend, 19-year-old Azalea Mendoza and Byron Jones, 26. Deputies charged Jones with principal to second-degree murder and Mendoza with accessory to homicide after the fact.

According to probable cause affidavits, three black males used zip-ties to restrain Jeffery and his wife, Brandi Jeffery to their bed during the home invasion. After stealing an Xbox One video game system, three cell phones and at least $200 in cash, one of the attackers shot Jonathan Jeffery.

Theodore was on probation for a similar crime committee in Manatee County in 2011.

During a search of Mendoza’s home, deputies discovered 19-year-old Antione Battle, who was identified as a suspect in a high school shooting in Georgia. He is not charged in the Sarasota crime, and is awaiting extradition.