Jacksonville Attorney Ann Finnell has taken the case of Ronnie Hyde, the Jacksonville Beach man accused of killing and dismembering 16-year-old Fred Laster in 1994.
A court document filed Wednesday shows that the firm of Finnell, McGuinness & Nemazi, P.A. has been retained to represent Hyde.
Finnell told Action News Jax reporter Jenna Bourne on Thursday that Hyde plans to plead not guilty to the murder and child porn charges.
Accused murderer Ronnie Hyde's attorney tells me he plans to plead not guilty at arraignment https://t.co/gpFKtLyFoN @ActionNewsJax #Jax pic.twitter.com/UMXD4NMyCW
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) March 30, 2017
On Tuesday, Action News Jax reported that Hyde is now facing 12 child pornography charges.
1994 FRED LASTER COLD CASE: Family of missing teen suspected Hyde for decades | Who is Ronnie Hyde, suspect in 1994 murder? | Why did it take 23 years to make arrest in Laster case? | Major challenges ahead for investigators
The former youth pastor was arrested March 7 after investigators matched his DNA to DNA found with Laster's body in 1994.
One of Finnell's most famous cases was featured in an Oscar-winning documentary "Murder on a Sunday Morning." Finnell was also on Casey Anthony's defense team. Finnell also defended Ryan Wilder, one of the defendants accused in the 2012 killing of Clay County Detective David White.
#ANJaxBreaking: Attorney Ann Finnell takes on accused murderer Ronnie Hyde's case. @ActionNewsJax #Jax pic.twitter.com/023gaKm0To
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) March 29, 2017
Ronnie Hyde's attorney Ann Finnell was on Casey Anthony's defense team. @ActionNewsJax #ANJaxBreaking #Jax pic.twitter.com/DJ3jXGcuUk
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) March 29, 2017
Just got off phone with Ronnie Hyde's lawyer Ann Finnell. She says Hyde is "steadfastly maintaining his innocence." https://t.co/gpFKtLQggl pic.twitter.com/S1Kmpfz3qb
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) March 30, 2017
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