He didn't have much to say, but the man accused of killing his girlfriend and three others hung his head during his first court appearance in Ocala today.
Even with 31 year old James Edward Bannister behind bars, there are still many questions left to resolve. Such as what was Bannister's motive? Are there in fact other people involved? And where is the gun that Bannister told a witness he used?
The man charged with killing four people inside a home in Ocala last Friday, and then setting it on fire, won't get out of the orange outfit anytime soon. But family are still scratching their heads as to why Jocalyn Gray's boyfriend, and father to one of her children, would take her life, and three others.
Jocalyn's Grandmother said in an interview yesterday, "you kill four people just out of the blue sky unless somebody offerred you money."
The gray family says there are others involved and that belief is shared by the father of the murdered children and fiance to Bridget Gray, Willie Hill.
Hill says, "I thought it was him and two other guys because it wasn't normal for Jocalyn to be out with the kids that time of night." Detective Sergeant Brian Spivey says they have no reason to believe anyone other than Bannister committed the murders. Spivey says, "obviously domestic related we've had information that would indicate that he and Jocalyn were having problems and that there were some other issues in their relationship."
So detectives have their troubled relationship motive and a key witness who Bannister detailed the murders to, but there's still something missing.
Spivey says, "having that gun is going to be key its a very crucial piece of evidence its another piece of the puzzle."
The Marion County Sheriff's Office is offering a $2,500 reward to anyone who may have seen Bannister in a 1993 Isuzu Rodeo around the time of the murders last Friday. They hope tracing his whereabouts will lead them to the murder weapon, a 38 caliber revolver. Bannister will be arraigned September 13th.