2 slain, 1 tortured and shot in Fla. drug dispute
POINCIANA (AP) – A man and woman in central Florida were killed and a third victim tortured and shot in a home invasion investigators say is drug-related.
Polk County sheriff’s officials on Sunday didn’t immediately identify the two killed in Poinciana, and wouldn’t say how 29-year-old Wilkins Merlan was tortured.
Merlan was shot twice, but able to crawl into a closet and call 911. His 3-year-old daughter was in the home but left unharmed.
Sheriff’s officials say a group of five or six men forced their way in, demanded $5,000 from Merlan and said he’d have to work for them if he wanted to sell drugs.