Man accused of stabbing Daytona Beach couple to death indicted on first-degree murder

A grand jury on Tuesday handed down an indictment on first-degree murder in a case that shocked Volusia County: The stabbing of a Daytona Beach couple riding their bicycles earlier this month during Bike Week.

Jean R. Macean, 32, was indicted Tuesday on two counts of first-degree murder with a weapon while acting with premeditation in the killings of Terry Aultman, 48, and Brenda Aultman, 55, according to indictment. The Aultmans were stabbed repeatedly while riding their bicycles home early in the morning of March 6 after attending Bike Week festivities on Main Street, police said.

"These were brutal, vicious, violent murders, multiple stab wounds to both individuals," State Attorney R.J. Larizza said when he announced the indictment during a press conference Tuesday on the steps of the Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand.

Larizza said the murders were of particular concern because of their apparent randomness and investigators had found no connection between Macean and the couple.

"It appears that for whatever reason the defendant just picked these two folks out, committed the homicides," Larizza said later, adding that Macean had made statements consistent with that conclusion following his arrest.

He said knives had been seized after Macean's arrest in Orlando, but it was unknown whether they where used in the murders. He said clothing was also recovered. He said investigators believe those things, along with other items, will help them build a case against Macean.

Larizza praised the work of the Daytona Beach Police Department which he said combined resources during the height of Bike Week to identify Macean.

"These two victims were picked at random," Larizza said. "And of course during one of the peak tourist events in Daytona Beach, which made it even more troubling."

He said it was "safe to say" that Bike Week was the likely reason that drew Macean to Daytona Beach. But Larizza said he could not answer whether Macean came with a plan to murder someone.

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Macean's arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. April 5 before Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach.

Macean’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Jessica Lyndsey Roberts, on March 18 filed a written plea of not guilty on his behalf.

Defendants usually enter a not guilty plea at arraignments but since Macean's attorney has already entered one, Macean may not appear in court until a pre-trial hearing set for May 4.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young stated previously that Macean had confessed to the killings.

Larizza said prosecutors will have 45 days from Macean's arraignment to decide whether to seek the death penalty in the case. Larizza said he will speak to the family and investigators during that time.

He said there are hurdles in seeking the death penalty.

"The unanimity that's required now of all 12 jurors is certainly a challenge," Larizza said. "It's foreclosed the death penalty on a lot of folks that would have gotten it otherwise."

What happened

The bodies of Terry and Brenda Aultman were found in the front yard of a home early on the morning of March 6 at the corner of Riverview Boulevard and North Wild Olive Avenue. The couple had been returning home with their bicycles after going to Main Street for Bike Week, police said.

Police focused on a man shown in security videos walking in the area of Seabreeze Boulevard with an “unusual slow gait” and wearing tan boots, white pants, a gray tank top and a black jungle hat, an affidavit stated.

At about 1 a.m. on March 6, a home surveillance video recorded two people, "presumably the victims" walking their bicycles northbound on North Wild Olive Avenue, according to an affidavit.

At about 1:01 a.m., a person can be seen walking northbound on North Wild Olive. The person appears to be walking faster than in other security videos he is recorded on and appears to be trying to catch up to the two people, the affidavit states.

The person was recorded at about 1:15 a.m. walking back south on North Wild Olive Avenue, the affidavit states.

About 1:18 a.m., the person appears in video from the rear of the Sakana Restaurant at 501 Seabreeze Blvd. While in all previous surveillance video, the man's white pant legs appear clean and unstained, in the Sakana video, his left pant leg is saturated by a dark substance, presumably blood, the affidavit states.

Based on an app on Brenda Aultman's phone, it appears her phone stopped moving at about 1 a.m., according to the affidavit.

Police said the couple suffered multiple stab wounds and deep lacerations to their throats.

The Aultmans' bicycles were found about 5 to 10 feet away from them. Police also found a small purse on the sidewalk. A pair of glasses and a man's hat were also found.

Larizza said during the press conference that while in town, Macean had spoken to a church group which had provided investigators better pictures of him.

Two days after the killing, a server came forward and told police the man had eaten at Johnny Rockets in Daytona Beach on March 5 and paid for his food with a credit card, signing the receipt “JM,” according to an affidavit.

Police received information from the credit card company which led them to Orlando where Macean was arrested on March 10 at an apartment complex.

Macean has a black tattoo of the numbers "1804" on the back of his right arm, the affidavit stated. Security video showed the same tattoo on the person of interest, the affidavit stated.

Larizza said the randomness of the murders was "troubling and disturbing."

"If you have (a) victim that knows the perpetrator and there's a motive, then typically you know that may be the end of the story," Larizza said. "But when you have random homicides that seem to happen for no reason or no reason that we can ascertain, it certainly ramps up the anxiety and the concern both with the public and with the law enforcement agencies."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Jean Macean, accused of killing Daytona Beach couple, indicted on murder charges