On Thursday (Feb 21) the State filed a formal Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty for JAKE ADAM BILOTTA (22) for the First Degree Premeditated Murder (CF) of Joshua Barnes (24) on November 27, 2018. BILOTTA had been indicted by the Grand Jury on December 11, 2018.

BILOTTA and IAN MCCLURG (21) planned to lure former roommate Barnes to a residence at 1917 South Boulevard (unincorporated Maitland) to seek revenge for the theft of a PlayStation gaming device. Upon entering the house, Barnes was attacked by BILOTTA, but MCCLURG abandoned the plan and did not participate. BILOTTA alone fought with and stabbed Barnes to death. The defendants were arrested after a roommate walked in on BILOTTA and MCCLURG attempting to place Barnes body into plastic bags and called 911. MCCLURG is charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder, tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

In their Notice, Prosecutors described the murder as "especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel" and "was committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification."

BILOTTA and MCLURG will remain in custody with NO BOND at the Seminole County Jail.  The case is set for Docket Review before Judge John Galluzzo, March 6th, 2019 - 8:30 AM, at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center.

Todd Brown
Public Information &
Communications
(321) 617-7310
(321) 704-0220 Mobile

Office of the State Attorney
18th Judicial Circuit
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Building D
Viera, Fl. 32940