ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An Orange County grand jury formally indicted Jose Sanchez, 34, for First Degree Felony Murder, Burglary of a Dwelling with Assault or Battery (with a Firearm) and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

On June 23, 2023, the victim, Pedro Bautista-Sanchez, 47, returned to his Verbena Court home in Orlando to find an unknown person in his house. There was a struggle and the victim was shot and killed. In February 2024, Orlando Police detectives received DNA results from the crime scene that matched the defendant.

On July 31, the State presented sufficient evidence to a grand jury to secure an indictment against Sanchez for First Degree Felony Murder, Burglary of a Dwelling with Assault or Battery (with a Firearm) and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Please check the Orange County Clerk of Court’s website for the latest updates on court hearings.

We are unable to provide additional information about the case at this time.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.