Three indicted in two Marion County homicide cases
Mugshots (left to right): Herbert Swilley, Leilani Brown and Dexavion Brown.
Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida
William M. Gladson, State Attorney
Marion County, Florida - On November 16, 2023, State Attorney, William "Bill" Gladson, announced two grand jury indictments that occured during the week for two separate Marion County homicide cases.
Herbert Swilley
The first case, Herbert Kurt Swilley, was indicted on one count of first-degree murder for the death of 59 year-old Timothy Smith.
On March 25, 2023, 55 year-old Swilley called the Marion County Sheriff's Office, stating that he was unable to reach his husband, Timothy Smith. After deputies arrived at the couple's shared apartment, they gained access into the apartment by means of a key provided by the landlord, where they located Timothy laying on a bedroom floor deceased.
Detectives obtained surveillance footage and electronic data from numerous sources, which resulted in the conclusion that Herbert Swilley was responsible for causing Timothy Smith's death.
On November 3, 2023, Swilley was arrested. He is in custody at the Marion County Jail in Ocala, Florida on charges of premeditated first degree murder and tampering with evidence in a criminal proceeding, with his bond set at none.
Leilani Brown and Dexavion Brown
The second case, Leilani Brown and Dexavion Brown were indicted for first-degree murder in the death of 17 year-old Lezarius "Lee" Graham. On June 7, 2023, officials with the Marion County Sheriff's Office responded to a wooded area in northwest Ocala after a witness reported discovering a body. Upon arrival, deputies observed the body of Lee Graham, who had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
The investigation revealed that Lee entered a vehicle, which was later determined to have been stolen, where he was shot by Dexavion Brown. Lee Graham exited the vehicle in an attempt to flee. Both Leilani Brown and Dexavion Brown then fled the scene in the stolen vehicle. Witnesses described seeing the stolen vehicle in the area and hearing gunshots, prior to Lee Graham's murder.
Leilani Ashantae Brown, age 19, of Cape Coral, Florida, had been arested on June 8, 2023 on an out of county Lee County, Florida warrant for failure to appear in court on a charge of resisitng an officer without violence (no bond); She was incarcerated at the Marion County Jail in Ocala, Florida. On August 3, 2023, she was additionally arrested on charges related to the June 7, 2023 Lee Graham murder case: giving false identification to a law enforcement officer, battery, premeditated first degree murder with a firearm, and grand theft of $750 or more but less than $5,000 (no bond), and grand theft of a motor vehicle ($10,000 bond).
Dexavion Kurt Brown, 23, of Ocala, Florida was arrested June 8, 2023 and incarcerated at the Marion Couonty Jail in Ocala, Florida on a Lake County, Florida warrant for two counts of attempted first degree murder with a firearm, and two counts of robbery with a firearm (no bond). He was also charged with battery by a person detained in a prison or jail facility (no bond). On September 11, 2023, he was transported by the Lake County Sheriff's Office to the Lake County Jail in Tavares, Florida, where he's being held on the charges with no bond.
"Sheriff Billy Woods and the Marion County Sheriff's Office detectives demonstrated unwavering dedication and exhaustive efforts in investigating these cases," said William "Bill" Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. "Their commitment has led to the apprehension of the defendants responsible for these heinous crimes, who will now face justice in the court of law."
About State Attorney Gladson:
William "Bill" Gladson was elected State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit in November 2020 and took office January 2021. He is a former law enforcement officer and career prosecutor with over 20 years of trial experience. As State Attorney, Gladson leads a team of over 250 employees who serve the citizens of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties, an area encompassing more than 1.2 million people.