GUILTY FL - Mathew Korattiyil, 68, killed by bank robber in carjacking, Valrico, 6 Aug 2019 *Arrest*

[JerseyGirl]

HCSO initially responded to a call of an armed bank robbery at the CenterState Bank in the 1800 block of Fl-60 East in Valrico. As the armed bank robbery suspect was trying to leave the bank, the suspect pointed a gun at 68-year-old Mathew Korattiyil, shoved him to the passenger's side of his white 2019 Lexus SUV and carjacked him.

Hours after the carjacking, HCSO announced they found Korattiyil dead in a grassy area of Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Church located at 2620 Washington Road.

At the time of Korattiyil's disappearance, HCSO spotted the Lexus SUV and a chase ensued. The suspect, later identified as 39-year-old James Hanson, eventually crashed the Lexus SUV, overturning it near the intersection of South St. Cloud Avenue and FL-60.

Missing carjacking victim found dead after bank robbery in Valrico, robbery suspect arrested

 

[AC's Grandma]

I live here. The suspect just got out of prison on July 2nd, he had done 16 years of a life sentence. He has been previously convicted of armed robbery and has an extensive record. I would say he's earned his way to a death penalty case. He could have easily let the victim go, instead he strangled him to death.
Suspect in deadly Valrico bank robbery gave 'full confession,' deputies say
MOO
RIP Mr. Korattiyil

Prayers to your family and friends

 

[YESorNO]

Deadly carjacking suspect being held in jail on no bond (with clip)

Aug 9, 2019

"TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A judge has ruled that a Valrico carjacking and murder suspect will be held in jail on no bond while he awaits trial.

James Hanson Jr. was arrested earlier this week and charged with bank robbery, carjacking and the murder of Mathew Korattiyil, a beloved Valrico business owner, who was a husband and father of three.

State prosecutors presented evidence in court Friday and requested Hanson not be released. The judge agreed, saying the evidence was compelling and ruled Hanson will be held on no bond.

Mathew Korattiyil’s family members were in court for the proceeding. His son Melson was called to testify about personal items that belonged to his father. After his testimony, the son left to view his father’s body for the first time.

Several other witnesses also testified in court...."

Deadly carjacking suspect being held in jail on no bond

 

[YESorNO]

Adria Iraheta‏ @AdriaIrahetaTV 17h17 hours ago
Currently at pretrial hearing for James Hanson, man who robbed bank, carjacked and killed 68 yr-old Mathew Korattiyil. Detective says Korattiyil was strangled to death by Hanson.


Adria Iraheta‏ @AdriaIrahetaTV 17h17 hours ago
Detective Moises Garcia says Hanson’s motive for bank robbery was trying to help sister, who’s being evicted, and helping his girlfriend with financial woes. Said he used fake gun during robbery. @BN9

Adria Iraheta‏ @AdriaIrahetaTV 16h16 hours ago
Correction: detective says it was a BB gun


Spectrum Bay News 9‏Verified account @BN9 12h12 hours ago
The man accused of killing a man after stealing his car and robbing a bank, James Hanson Jr., had his first pretrial hearing Friday. @AdriaIrahetaTV reports on what went down in court.

Valrico Carjack Suspect Googled "Banks Near Me" Before Spree

 

[YESorNO]

Deadly Valrico carjacking suspect: 'My life is over.' (with clip)

Aug 09 2019

"VALRICO, Fla. (FOX 13) - James Hanson, Jr. is back to familiar surroundings - a courtroom.
The ex-con was just released from prison after serving more than 20 years of a life sentence.

Dressed in a red jail jumpsuit and shackled hands and feet, he was brought to his bond hearing Friday afternoon. ..."

http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/deadly-valrico-carjacking-suspect-my-life-is-over

 

[YESorNO]

Services Set For Valrico Grandfather Killed In Carjacking
The Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office has issued a statement defending its reasons for releasing Hanson from jail early.

Aug 9, 2019

"BRANDON, FL — Funeral services for a Valrico man who was found murdered during a carjacking on Tuesday will take place Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Nativity Catholic Church, 705 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon....

Statement from Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren's office:

Defendant James Hanson is currently being held without bail for the murder of Mathew Korattiyil, and we will work tirelessly to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law to achieve justice for Mathew, and our entire community.

Our office has charged James Hanson with first degree murder, kidnapping, carjacking, robbery, grand theft motor vehicle, and resisting an officer with violence. Hanson was released from prison last month to begin 10 years of probation after serving a 20-year sentence in connection with a 2002 robbery. In 2003, Hanson was initially sentenced to life in prison for that robbery.

In 2016, Hanson became a material witness in the prosecution of another defendant, Robert Alton Henderson III, on charges of first-degree murder and robbery. Henderson confessed his crimes to Hanson and solicited Hanson to kill two witnesses in Henderson's case. Hanson provided this information to law enforcement and testified at trial against Henderson. Hanson's testimony was critical in convicting Henderson of murder and robbery, for which Henderson is serving a life sentence.

At the same time in 2016, Hanson was seeking a new trial for his 2002 conviction on multiple grounds. The presiding court found some of Hanson's grounds to be tenable. In consideration of his post-conviction claims and the substantial testimony he provided against Henderson, the State Attorney's Office agreed to a sentence of 20 years imprisonment plus 10 years of probation for Hanson. In short, in May 2016, the State Attorney's Office concluded that reducing Hanson's sentence was appropriate to convict a murderer and keep Hanson in prison for three additional years plus probation without risking a new trial for Hanson. The hard reality of our criminal justice system is that sometimes prosecutors have to use the testimony of criminals to convict other criminals.

Mathew's death is a senseless tragedy, and our office extends its deepest condolences to his family and friends. State Attorney Warren has spoken with Mathew's family, and the Korattiyil family requests that the media respect its privacy during this time."

Services Set For Valrico Grandfather Killed In Carjacking

 

[FunkyMonkey]

I live here. The suspect just got out of prison on July 2nd, he had done 16 years of a life sentence. He has been previously convicted of armed robbery and has an extensive record. I would say he's earned his way to a death penalty case. He could have easily let the victim go, instead he strangled him to death.
Suspect in deadly Valrico bank robbery gave 'full confession,' deputies say
MOO
RIP Mr. Korattiyil

Prayers to your family and friends

16 years of a life sentence.... I have no words right now. MOO

 

[PayrollNerd]

So many victims at the hands of this piece of crap human, now this poor man has been taken from his family and community. This case is the perfect example of "we have a legal system in this country, not a justice system." Infuriating!

 

[YESorNO]

Accused Killer Of Valrico Man Attempts To Hang Himself

Aug 13, 2019

"BRANDON, FL — The man accused of carjacking and killing a Valrico grandfather has attempted to take his own life at the Falkenburg Road Jail.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, inmate James Hanson Jr. attempted suicide. He has been taken to the Tampa General Hospital...."

Accused Killer Of Valrico Man Attempts To Hang Himself
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sister of accused Valrico murderer believes guilt led him to attempt suicide (with clip)

Aug 14, 2019

"HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – For the family of James Hanson Jr., the past couple of weeks have been a double whammy.

First, their brother stood accused of a bank robbery, carjacking and murder. Then, a week later, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office officials say he tried to kill himself in jail.

“We feel really bad,” sister Susan Correa said. “We were raised up to have morals and values.”

She tells WFLA her family is shocked at the accusations against her younger brother....

Correa thinks her brother tried to kill himself at the Falkenburg Road Jail because of mental illness and the guilt that came with the alleged murder of a beloved local businessman.

The family says doctors told them Hanson is brain dead and won’t pull through....

Correa explained that her brother suffers from mental illness and heard voices in his head prior the to the Aug. 6 crime spree.

At last check, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office said Hanson remained in critical condition."

Sister of accused Valrico murderer believes guilt led him to attempt suicide

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

The Patrol Board should be charged with murder for letting him out.

 

[asmi106082]

The Patrol Board should be charged with murder for letting him out.

According to the above post, he wasn't released on parole. His sentence was changed to 20 years after he cooperated with the DA and testified against a convicted murderer. Still very sad that this happened but it seems the prosecutor was the one who decided to let him out early, not a parole board.

 

[YESorNO]

Carjacking, murder suspect may have irreversible brain damage after suicide attempt

Aug 29 2019

"TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - The suspect accused of carjacking and murdering a man in Valrico may have suffered irreversible brain damage after he attempted to commit suicide in jail.

James Hanson Jr., 39, has been in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital since he tried to hang himself at the Hillsborough County Jail earlier this month.

Hanson was due to be arraigned Thursday for the murder of his carjacking victim, 68-year-old Mathew Korattiyil. But it was revealed in court that Hanson remains hooked up to machines and not physically able to show up for his arraignment...."

Carjacking, murder suspect may have irreversible brain damage after suicide attempt

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

Carjacking, murder suspect may have irreversible brain damage after suicide attempt

Aug 29 2019

"TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - The suspect accused of carjacking and murdering a man in Valrico may have suffered irreversible brain damage after he attempted to commit suicide in jail.

James Hanson Jr., 39, has been in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital since he tried to hang himself at the Hillsborough County Jail earlier this month.

Hanson was due to be arraigned Thursday for the murder of his carjacking victim, 68-year-old Mathew Korattiyil. But it was revealed in court that Hanson remains hooked up to machines and not physically able to show up for his arraignment...."

Carjacking, murder suspect may have irreversible brain damage after suicide attempt

“critical condition” Good.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Nearly a month after attempting to take his own life, the man accused of killing his carjacking victim showed up in court.

Wheelchair-bound defendant James Hanson was wheeled into a Tampa courtroom Tuesday morning for his arraignment on murder and carjacking charges. Hanson has been in the hospital since his suicide attempt at Hillsborough County Jail in August.

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Mark Wolfe asked Hanson if he could raise his right hand to be sworn in. Hanson struggled to lift his right hand a few inches. Judge Wolfe asked if he understood his right to show up for every court appearance, and Hanson slowly replied, Yes."
Carjacking, murder suspect appears in court for the first time since suicide attempt

 

[YESorNO]

Son of murder victim: ‘We want to make sure my father’s legacy is heard’

Sep 10, 2019

"TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – The Korattiyil family remains shocked and devastated weeks after Mathew Korattiyil was murdered by a convicted felon.

“This is a very tough time for our family,” Korattiyil’s son, Melvin, said over the phone Tuesday. “We want to make sure my father’s legacy is continued and heard.”

Just hours before speaking to 8 On Your Side, friends and family members were in court to witness the arraignment of suspect James Hanson, Jr. It comes weeks after Hanson tried to commit suicide at the Falkenburg Road Jail in Hillsborough County. The attempt failed, and Tuesday, Hanson appeared in court in a wheelchair.

“I thought it was a very cowardly act on his part,” Melvin Korattiyil said about Hanson’s attempt to escape justice...."

Son of murder victim: ‘We want to make sure my father’s legacy is heard’

 

[YESorNO]

Man accused in Valrico carjack-murder appears in court for first time after suicide attempt
A three-week hospital stay has clearly taken its toll on James Hanson, Jr.

September 11, 2019

"TAMPA — Six weeks ago, a wiry and muscular James Hanson, Jr. sat in a courtroom joking with his public defender. He was accused of robbing a bank four days earlier, then using his bare hands and belt to strangle to death a 68-year-old retired Valrico convenience store owner.

When a bailiff wheeled Hanson into a courtroom Tuesday to face a judge for the first time since a suicide attempt last month, he was barely able to raise his hand to take the oath.

Pale and gaunt, Hanson slumped in his wheelchair, his red prison jumpsuit hanging loosely on his hunched shoulders, a white bandage affixed to his throat below a scraggly beard. He looked blankly at Circuit Judge Mark Wolfe but was able to muster a soft, raspy “yes” when Wolfe asked if he understood what was happening during the proceedings....

Because of Hanson’s hospitalization, Assistant State Attorney Jay Pruner has filed a motion seeking to stop the clock on the state’s speedy trial provision. In Florida, defendants charged with felonies have a right to trial within 175 days. A hearing on that motion is set for Sept. 26, but Hanson likely won’t be there. During Tuesday’s hearing, he waived his right to appear.

Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren has not yet announced whether his office will seek the death penalty in the case...."

Man accused in Valrico carjack-murder appears in court for first time after suicide attempt

(Mathew Korattiyil)

 

[JerseyGirl]

Convicted felon who once received life sentence back in court for Valrico carjacking death | WFLA

 

[PayrollNerd]

Defendant sentenced to life in prison after surprise plea in Valrico carjacking, murder

Nobody was prepared for James Hanson Jr. to call off his opportunity for a jury trial before it could even begin — not his attorneys, not Hillsborough Circuit Judge Samantha Ward, and certainly not the family of the man he kidnapped and killed in a carjacking outside a Valrico bank in 2019.

.....Hanson asked Ward to allow him to plead guilty to all seven charges associated with his August 2019 crime spree.

Ward asked him several times if he was sure. The decision went against the advice of his own attorneys, she said. And it meant she would have no alternative choice but to sentence Hanson, 41, to life imprisonment without possibility of parole.