A Port St. Lucie woman pleaded not guilty Jan. 18 to a felony murder charge in connection with the 2017 killing of two people at the Zota Beach Resort on Longboat Key.
Latoya Hanna is the sister of a man arrested in August 2017 for the fatal shooting of night manager Timothy Hurley, 59, of Sarasota, and Victory Security of Florida guard Kevin Carter, 51, of Bradenton, at the resort, 4711 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
The Longboat Key Police Department arrested Darryl Vaughn Hanna Jr., a part-time employee of Victory Security of Florida, in connection with the Aug. 4, 2017, crime and he was facing second-degree murder and robbery charges in 2018, when he suffered a stroke and traumatic brain injury, leaving him in a vegetative state. A judge then declared him incompetent to stand trial.
Until this month, Darryl Hanna was the only person arrested in connection with the case.
But early in LBKPD’s investigation, questions were raised as to whether more than one person was involved in the crime.
An arrest warrant issued for Latoya Hanna alleges that four people went to the resort to commit armed robbery: Darryl Hanna Jr., Latoya Hanna, another man and an unnamed coconspirator who “confessed involvement in the robbery and murders and provided information about the crimes.”
The warrant alleged that Latoya Hanna was the driver of a getaway van and that Darryl Hanna Jr., who had worked at the resort, “was familiar with the workings of the hotel.”
“Security video captures a white van matching the description of the van rented by Latoya Hanna driving south through Bradenton Beach towards Longboat Key” the morning of the robbery, the warrant stated.
The warrant also alleged that Latoya Hanna rented a hotel room used before and after the robbery, that she drove the coconspirators to and from the resort, that she owned a gun used to commit the killings and that she took action to conceal evidence.
The warrant also alleged the Hannas were involved in a failed attempt to rob the resort July 21, 2017.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office took Latoya Hanna into custody Jan. 12 on the warrant out of Manatee County, then extradited Hanna to Manatee County.
Hanna, 36, of Port St. Lucie, demanded a jury trial.
As of Jan. 19, she remained in jail.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Feb. 9 at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton.