16-Year-Old Accused Of Killing 15-Year-Old Boy With Baseball Bat

LAKE WALES, FL – The Polk County Sheriff’s is investigating the beating death of a 15-year-old teen by a neighbor with a baseball bat.

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Dillen Murrary, 16, has been taken into custody after admitting to beating his friend, Giovanni Diaz, 15, multiple times with a bat in the woods behind their neighborhood at Caloosa and Lake boulevards.

Judd said the beating took place just after 3 p.m. Monday, March 19.

According to police, Murray said he and Diaz went into the woods where, for unknown reasons, Murray reportedly began to beat Diaz with a baseball bat.

Murray exited the woods a short time later and encountered an acquaintance from the neighborhood. According to the sheriff’s office, Murray told the acquaintance that he had just beat Diaz with a bat and he thought the 15-year-old was dead. The acquaintance urged Murray to call 911.

While Murray did as the acquaintance suggested, the neighbor went into the woods and found Diaz dead with the baseball bat lying nearby.

Murray has been taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judd said the two teens have lived in the same neighborhood and have known one another for a number of years.

However, their acquaintance hasn’t always been friendly.

Two years ago, Murray was charged with two counts of battery against Diaz when the boys were 14 and 13 years old, respectively.

Murray was again charged with battery against his father, Paul Murray, in March 2017.

Murray hasn’t given any explanation for beating Diaz multiple times with the bat.

Judd said his office will release more information when it is available.

Image via Polk Sheriff's Office