The State Attorney’s Office has filed second-degree murder charges against MARQUAVIOUS T. WHEATON, the driver who killed two brothers in a high-speed crash on July 7 in Casselberry. 

Seminole County prosecutors will seek life sentences for Wheaton, 26, for actions that revealed a depraved mind and a corrupt disregard for the lives and safety of others. They believe the evidence supports a conviction on two counts of second-degree murder, a stronger charge than vehicular homicide or third-degree murder.

“We want him off our streets and out of the community for good,” said State Attorney William Scheiner.  “He knowingly risked countless lives before ending two in the blink of an eye. The victims and their grieving families deserve our best effort at justice.”

The evidence against Wheaton includes sheriff’s helicopter video that shows him weaving through heavy noon-hour traffic at 115 mph or more and running red lights on U.S. 17/92 before he broadsided an SUV carrying Christopher Marier, 42, and Tyler Marier, 40, killing them. Evidence also includes body camera video from first responders to the crash site that  shows Wheaton was the sole occupant of the speeding BMW sedan.

Seminole County Sheriff’s deputies earlier had tried to pull Wheaton over for a traffic offense, but they did not closely pursue him in their vehicles when he sped off.

Because Wheaton was on probation when he caused the fatal wreck, he also faces a separate violation-of-probation action in Seminole County that would reopen his original case and could imprison him long term. Wheaton was sentenced in 2019 to five years in state prison for robbery with a firearm, a crime that can be punished by up to life in prison.