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Pastor’s Son Charged with First-Degree Murder for Running Over Woman

The 18-year-old Florida man who allegedly ran over a woman after beating up her son over a “romantic” dispute has been indicted for first-degree murder by a grand jury.

Elijah Stansell, the son of a pastor at Westwood Missionary Baptist Church in Winter Haven, was also indicted on charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling with battery or assault, conspiracy related to that charge and accessory after commission of a felony, according to the Lakeland Ledger.

Stansell was behind the wheel of the church van when he intentionally ran into Suzette Penton, a 52-year-old Polk City librarian, on Nov. 10, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

She spent three weeks in critical condition before succumbing to her injuries.

Stansell and three friends, 16-year-old Raven Sutton, 16-year-old Kimberly Stone, and 14-year-old Hannah Eubank, allegedly showed up at Penton’s house on Nov. 9 to confront her son, Hunter, who had previously dated Stone, according to police.

After Stansell and Sutton attacked Hunter, the group went to drive off, but Penton ran out of the house and chased the van to take photos.

Suzette Penton died in late November.

“Though there was enough room for the van to maneuver around her as she stood in the roadway, Stansell intentionally ran into her, then over her, before fleeing the scene,” police said in a statement at the time.

Sutton, Stone and Eubank have also been indicted for burglary of an occupied dwelling with battery or assault, conspiracy to commit burglary and accessory after the fact.