Lecanto married couple arrested as suspects in two murders
HCSO mugshots: Duane Sclesky (left) and Luequita Sclesky (right).
Citrus County Sheriff's Office, June 18, 2024
~ Regarding arrests of Leuquita Mattrice Schlesky and Duane David Sclesky, and murders of Jamie Macdonald and Kenneth Zickendrath ~
"Missing person investigation turns into discovery of double homicide in Hernando and citrus counties in Florida"
Citrus County, Florida - On May 12, 2024, Jamie Macdonald was reported missing to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) by family members, who had not seen her since April 27, 2024.
Over the next several days, HCSO detectives followed-up on multiple leads, hoping to locate Macdonald. At that time, Citrus County residents 32-year-old Luequita Sclesky and her husband, 38-year-old Duane David Sclesky, became persons of interest in her disappearance.
On May 20, the HCSO contacted the Citrus County Sheriff's Office for assistance with the case. They wanted to interview the potential suspects at their residence, located at 3077 West Tanager Court in Lecanto, Florida. During the interview, both Scleskys provided various contradictory accounts of Macdonald's whereabouts.
At the Sclesky residence, evidence was collected that led detectives from both agencies to a wooded area within Hernando County where they located a deceased person, later determined not to be the missing woman in question, but an unidentified man who was later identified as 68 year-old Kenneth Zickendrath. It was determined that Mr. Zickendrath had been deceased for more than a year, was he was never reported missing.
The CCSO continued to search areas of concern within Citrus County for Macdonald, but searches were unsuccessful at locating her.
During the investigation, HCSO detectives proved that the Sclesky's were utilizing both Zickendrath's and Macdonald's bank accounts at numerous locations across Citrus County and Hernando County.
On June 14, the HCSO established probable cause to arrest Lequita Sclesky for fraud, and Duane Sclesky on various drug offenses and a traffic infraction.
Information was received on Friday, June 14, 2024, that led detectives with both agencies to a creek in Homosassa, where detectives located a second body, later identified as Macdonald.
Both suspects were interviewed at the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, with CCSO Major Crimes Detectives observing the interviews. The Sclesky's were charged as follows:
Luequita Mattrice Sclesky
• principle to first degree murder
• 75 counts of misuse of a deceased person's personal identification
• fraudulent use of a credit card
• unlawful use of two-way communication device
• an additional Citrus County charge of principle to first degree murder
Duane David Sclesky
• first degree murder
• trafficking in fentanyl
• possession of paraphernalia/various narcotics
• an additional Citrus County charge of first degree murder
"Think about these victims; they may have lived a high-risk lifestyle, but they did not deserve to die like this," said Sheriff Prendergast. "While there is no evidence at this time of other victims, if anyone out there has missing loved ones who were known associates of the Sclesky's, do not hesitate to reach out to CCSO or HCSO to report your concerns."
Both suspects are being held at the Hernando County Detention Center in Brooksville, Florida without bond. Further charges are pending.
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Lecanto, Florida - A news confeence was presented at the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Emergency Operations Center in Lecanto on June 17, 2024, detailing an investigation between the CCSO and the Hernando County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) that resulted in the arrest of a married couple who lived, until their arrests on June 14, 2024, on Tanager Court in Lecanto.
Arrested were 38 year-old Duane David Sclesky and 32 year-old Luequita Mattrice Sclesky, who are both suspects the murders of Jamie Lin MacDonald and Kenneth Zickendrath. The two are incarcerated at the Hernando County Detention Center in Brooksville, Florida.
During the news conference, it was stated that the victims lived a high-risk lifestyle that may have involved drugs, and that Duane Sclesky admitted he has anger issues. No information was given as to how the deaths of the victims occurred.
Jamie Lin MacDonald was reported missing by her family on May 12, 2024. According to the news conference, the Scleskys used MacDonald's credit card at an ATM after she was reported missing.
While detectives in both counties were investigating MacDonald's disappearance, they found the body of Kenneth Zikendrath in a wooded area off State Road 50, between U.S. 19 and Mariner Boulevard in the Brooksville/Spring Hill area of Hernando County. He had been there at least a year, but he had not been reported missing.
A short time later, MacDonald's body was found in a creek in Homosassa, Florida.
The Sceleskys were known acquaintances of both MacDonald and Zikendrath.
Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said that the suspects obtained the cell phones of the victims and changed passwords for bank accounts so they could access the accounts, "Either prior to or after the murders."
"They did not deserve to die that way," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast, who added, "there may be other victims out there," referencing Duane Sclesky's temper, although the agencies have no evidence to suggest there are more victims.
Luequita Sclesky is facing charges of criminal use of personal identification, unlawful possession of stolen debit or credit cards, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, violation of probation, and homicide.
Duane Sclesky is facing charges of trafficking in fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a revoked or suspended license, and homicide.
Sheriff Prendergast said that additional charges are pending for both Scleskys.
View the news conference here: www.facebook.com/HernandoSheriff/videos/1186092889060474.