2 more teens are arrested in homeless man's slaying

HOLLY HILLS - Investigators have arrested two 15-year-olds in the beating death of a homeless man, bringing the number of teenagers facing charges to five.

Warren Messner of Holly Hill was charged Friday with second-degree murder, and Phi Huynh of Daytona Beach was charged with aggravated battery. Both were taken into custody at Messner's home.

The two teens were scheduled to make their first court appearances Saturday, but the state Department of Juvenile Justice would not comment on their status.

Authorities said the two teenagers - along with Christopher Scamahorn, 14, Justin Stearns, 18, and Jeffery Spurgeon, 18 - were involved in the fatal beating of Michael Eugene Roberts, 53, on May 25.

He was beaten, kicked and crushed when teens jumped on a log on his chest in woods where the group was known to hang out behind a carwash.

During initial interviews with investigators, Huynh and Messner admitted being in the woods when Roberts was beaten three times over a two-hour period, said sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson.

His body remained in the woods until Spurgeon's mother called authorities three days later to report she had overheard something about a beating.

Spurgeon, Stearns and Scamahorn were indicted Thursday by a grand jury on charges of first-degree murder and murder conspiracy.

Scamahorn and Spurgeon, the first to be arrested, told Volusia County sheriff's investigators they attacked Roberts for fun and something to do.

"I hope they got everyone who was involved," said Roberts' sister, Barbara Roberts Burns.

No more arrests were expected, but the investigation is continuing, Davidson said.

[Last modified June 12, 2005, 00:38:17]