Separate trials for four accused of murder have been continued until pre-trial in August, according to the Suwannee County Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office. They were scheduled for pre-trials last week.

Marcus Cole

Marcus Cole, 40, of 12803 225th Rd., was hosting a party and cookout at his home with 11 people in attendance. At approximately 10 p.m. on Jan. 26, six of the party goers got into a fight. 
Shortly after the fight had broken up, Cole went into his home and retrieved a 30.06 rifle.

Mike Williams, 46, was about six feet away from a truck his brother Abram Williams, 41, was sitting in, when Cole reportedly shot and killed him.

Abram attempted to leave in the truck when Cole reportedly shot him in the head. He passed away the following day. 


Cole then took the gun back into his home. 


Guests at the party witnessed the shootings and Cole admitted to shooting the victims. 


Cole faces two charges of capital first degree murder. 


Pre-trial for Cole has been continued until August. No trial date has yet been set.

Morgan Anna Eilts


Morgan Anna Eilts, 20, 7962 SE 125th St., Jasper, was arrested as a result of the events occurring in Suwannee County during 2010, which caused the death of an infant child.

According to the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, Eilts admitted to sitting the infant down on a coffee table, bumping its head on the table accidentally too rough. The victim told authorities that she was frustrated and irritable during the month of September 2010.


Eilts told authorities that on one occasion she pulled the three-month-old victim up by her legs, leaned them into her chest and jerked them down. Another time, while frustrated with her husband, Eilts admitted to grabbing the crying victim’s arm, squeezing it and bending it. Eilts said she heard a cracking noise where she had her hand, reports show.


During the investigation, Eilts also demonstrated how she had shaken the infant back and forth, holding the baby’s shoulders close to the throat.


Records show that Eilts also admitted to holding the infant up in the palms of her hand while in the tub, when the baby accidentally slipped from Eilts’ hands and hit her head pretty hard on the bottom of the tub.


According to the SCSO, these events occurred between Sept. 1, 2010 and Oct. 15, 2010. The three-month-old infant died on Oct. 20, 2010, authorities say.


After a lengthy investigation that included gathering medical evidence, Eilts was arrested on Thursday, May 31, 2012, according to records from the SCSO.


Eilts faces charges of aggravated manslaughter on a child and neglect of a child.

Eilts was previously scheduled for trial on Aug. 26-30, however, her case was continued and will go for pre-trial again on Aug. 12. Eilts has been removed from the August court docket.

Kenneth Glenn Hooker


Kenneth Glenn Hooker, 44, 14439 201st Rd., Live Oak, reportedly stabbed his mother, Rose Lawson, to death on March 25. Hooker said that they had been fighting and the reason he stabbed her was because he just wanted her to listen to him.


Following the incident that occurred around 8 p.m. March 25, Hooker did not call 911 for any medical help. Lawson died as a result of the injury to her chest.


Hooker admitted to stabbing his mother and revealed the weapon he used to law enforcement officers. 
Hooker faces a charge of second degree murder.


Hooker was awarded a continuance, but will go back for pre-trial next month. No trial date has been set. 


Antonio Rosales

Antonio Rosales, 46, was indicted on Aug. 19, 2011, for first degree murder. He will stand accused of strangling and beating his Suwannee Correctional Institution cellmate, 63-year-old Andres Islas, to death in March 2011.


Third Circuit State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister told the Democrat that his office will seek the death penalty. 


At the time of the killing, Rosales was serving a life sentence for kidnapping, attempted felony murder and sexual battery on a victim under 12, all offenses from Seminole County originating in 2003, according to the DOC.


Islas was sentenced in 1996 and was serving more than 40 years for armed robbery, grand theft, drug possession and aggravated assault, among others.


Rosales faces a first degree murder charge.


Rosales’ case was scheduled for trial on Aug. 26-30. The case was continued and the trial date has been tentatively set for Oct. 21-25.