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Murder in Fort Myers, Florida, July 21, 2018

Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller, 29

Fort Myers Police Department officer responding to a stolen-cellphone call.

Released by a judgeUndocumented
  1. Original charge
    Cumulative releases over 24 prior arrests (assault, weapons, theft, resisting)
    December 1, 2017
  2. Released
    Multiple pretrial releases / case dismissals over years
    April 1, 2018
  3. 111 days later
    Murder
    July 21, 2018

What happened

Jobbers-Miller responded to a report of a stolen cellphone. Desmaret struggled with him, took his service weapon, and shot him in the head. He died of his injuries five days later. Desmaret was found competent to stand trial in 2022 and convicted of first-degree murder in 2023. Sentenced to life without parole.

The release decision

On December 1, 2017, Wisner Desmaret was charged with cumulative releases over 24 prior arrests (assault, weapons, theft, resisting). Lee County Court / Twentieth Judicial Circuit Multiple Lee County Judges (Pending Full Identification) ordered the release on April 1, 2018. Terms: multiple pretrial releases / case dismissals over years. Prosecutors had asked for detention / competency commitment. The defendant had 24 prior arrests at the time.

The defendant's record

24 prior arrests in Lee County dating to the early 2000s. Repeatedly released — cases dismissed for mental-illness rulings, evidence issues, or charges declined. In the country without legal status. No prior felony conviction at the time of the killing.

Sources