Volusia Grand Jury Indicts Two For First-Degree Murder

DeLand, FL - A Volusia County Grand Jury has indicted 29-year-old Othal Wallace—charged with shooting and killing a police officer—and 33-year-old Deandre Anderson—charged with the murder of a woman found inside of a burning home. The State Attorney’s Office (SAO) was present at the jury selection room in the DeLand Courthouse as State Attorney RJ Larizza convened the grand jury that eventually indicted both Wallace and Anderson. Wallace was initially charged with attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer after he shot Daytona Beach Police Officer Jason Raynor, who was hospitalized after the shooting. Wallace was arrested after a nationwide manhunt led law enforcement to a property in Georgia where he was hiding out. 55 days after he was shot, Officer Raynor died, leading to Wallace’s attempted first-degree murder charge to be upgraded to a first-degree murder charge. Larizza told News Daytona Beach that Wallace’s indictment will move his case into a circuit court in Volusia County. Larizza also added that the state is seeking the death penalty in this case. "We also filed our notice of intent to seek the death penalty and listed several aggravated factors that we will pursue," said Larizza. Anderson’s indictment came after Daytona Beach police responded to a home on Cannon Street in reference to a domestic disturbance call. Officers found flames coming from the home as they arrived on scene. Firefighters who were battling the blaze eventually found the remains of a woman inside the home. Police found Anderson walking away from the home and took him in for questioning. He was later charged with first-degree murder by police. He has since been indicted for first-degree murder and arson.