Sheriff Calls 75-Year-Old Hudson Man's Killing Act Of 'Pure Evil'

HUDSON, FL — A 21-year-old Hudson a man has been charged with premeditated first-degree homicide by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, which said he intentionally ran down and killed a 75-year-old man with his PT Cruiser Thursday afternoon.

In a press conference Friday, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco described the murder of the grandfather and Vietnam Army veteran as "pure evil."

"There are some cases we hear about that absolutely, even for us in law enforcement, make us just realize and remind us that there is pure evil in this world," said Nocco.

Nocco said Justyn Mitchell Pennell of Sea Pines Drive later admitted to detectives that he had been planning to kill someone for months.

According to the sheriff's report, around 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 9, Pennell got into his 2004 red PT Cruiser and left his home "with the intention of looking for someone walking or riding a bicycle to run over them, so he could see what it's like to kill them."

Nocco said Pennell drove past the victim who was carrying a walking stick and walking alone on the side of Aripeka Road, which has no sidewalks. Nocco said Pennell passed the man, made a U-turn and then accelerated toward the man at a high rate of speed.

"He tells us later that, as he's driving toward the victim, he can see the look of fright on the victim's face," said Nocco.

The pedestrian tried to get out of the way but was struck by the PT cruiser. His body was found about 10 yards off the road.

In addition to hitting the victim, Pennell also struck an electric pole, damaging the PT Cruiser. The car broke down about a quarter mile away on Old Dixie Highway just south of Aripeka Road.

With his car inoperable, Pennell called 911 and confessed to a dispatcher that he intentionally ran over a pedestrian.

"Maybe God intervened in that the car broke down, and he wasn't able to escape, and now we can at least bring justice to that family," said Nocco.

Pasco Sheriff's Detective Michael Rosa said Pennell was "very calm during the interview and confessed everything. He was extremely cooperative, very lucid and didn't appear to be under the influence of anything."

Pennell told detectives that he was smiling and laughing when he struck the man, who he did not know.

"I have worked cases where someone planned to kill somebody, but never a case where someone went out looking for someone to kill," said Rosa.

When asked about Pennell's demeanor, Nocco said it seemed the act of killing another person "was almost for him pleasurable."

Adding to the disturbing scenario, Nocco said a witness who contacted the sheriff's office said other people drove up, possibly took photos of the crime scene and then drove away.

"If you are one of those witnesses, do the right thing," he said. "Please contact the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. We have a very solid case, a very strong case, but we want to make sure we bring justice to this victim."

Detectives said there is no indication that Pennell, who lists his occupation as laborer, has ever been arrested.

The victim's family has asked that his name not be released.

"I can't imagine the horror of having to tell his grandkids about this," said Nocco.