Deland, Florida – A Daytona Beach man was convicted Thursday and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a teenager he catfished. Jakari Webb, 21, was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury after deliberating for about two hours. Circuit Judge Randell Rowe III handed down the mandatory life sentence at the conclusion of the trial held at the Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand.
Webb’s crime involved luring 19-year-old Telan Mann to a meeting near Oak Tree Circle and Forest Glen Boulevard in June 2022. Webb, who pretended to be someone else on social media, shot Mann nine times, resulting in his death. Despite Webb’s defense attorney claiming the lack of concrete evidence linking him to the crime, former Daytona Beach Police Detective Joseph Roces provided testimony connecting Webb to the shooting through text messages and cellphone data.
Roces mentioned that surveillance cameras captured Webb en route to the meeting location, with references and identifications from individuals who knew Webb. The prosecution argued that Webb’s actions revealed premeditation and vindictiveness, as he reportedly claimed to police that the shooting was retribution for Mann’s past comments about Webb’s sexuality.
Moreover, State Attorney R.J. Larizza emphasized Webb’s calculated actions, stating that the shooting exemplified premeditation and a clear intention to commit murder. The tragic incident shed light on the dangers of online deception and the serious consequences it can lead to, especially in cases involving vulnerable individuals like Mann. Webb’s sentencing served as a reminder of the need for accountability and justice in cases where lives are senselessly taken due to deceit and harmful intentions.