This is the story of Daniel Carter. He is a
young 15-year old boy from Pensacola, Florida and he is in a lot of
trouble right now. His life before he was in trouble was typical of
a young teenage boy who lived with his mom. He was your typical
kid. He played baseball and attended school and church with
his mom. He loved to laugh and he especially loved to play his
guitar. He could be anyone's child. He is vibrant, blond and
adorable!
His baseball friends call him "Cub" Carter
and he looks so cute holding his bat smiling at the camera. Life
looks great!
Daniel's life took a terribly wrong turn last
July 2002. Daniel had gotten into some of his uncle's surfing
magazines that were in a corner of a barn behind the home Daniel and his
mother shared. Daniel's uncle found out and Daniel was very much
afraid of his uncle and was told by his uncle that he was coming over to
handle it with Daniel. He told Daniel he would be over in a few
days, but changed his mind and showed up two days
earlier.
Jack telephoned ahead and spoke to Cindy
Carter, Daniel's mom. He said he was coming over right then. It was
getting to be very late and Cindy told him not to bring his anger with
him. He telephoned again. He told Cindy to stay in her
room. She was at home with a broken leg. This time Daniel
heard part of the conversation. He was terrified. He
telephoned an older friend to ask him to come get him, but the friend just
blew him off.
When Jack showed up at Daniel and Cindy's
home, he was very much out of control. He broke Daniel's bedroom
door off the hinges and in a fit of rage, began beating Daniel, who was in
his bed, with a flashlight. He yanked Daniel up out of his bed by
his hair and continued beating him, yelling at him that he was going to
castrate him. He brought along a rope and he had a knife tucked in
his sock.
Jack was much larger than Daniel. He
was a body builder and he was in top physical condition. He
stood 6'1" tall and had a distinct advantage over a young boy, who only
two weeks earlier, had celebrated his 15th birthday. Jack was also a
black belt in Kung-fu. He studied this form of martial arts for 25
years.
He came at Daniel kicking his legs and
engaging in all the kung-fu maneuvers. Daniel was screaming for his mother
to come help him. The fighting continued and Daniel received many
bruises. Jack screamed again that he was going to castrate Daniel. He was
smashing Daniel's prized possessions all the while he was beating on
Daniel. He smashed Daniel's guitar and vcr. Daniel grabbed the phone
which was nearby and tried to dial 911, but Jack ripped it out of the
wall. Later, it was discovered that Jack had steroids, drugs
and alcohol in his system. There was also a loaded gun in the
back of Jack's truck.
Daniel's television was knocked to the floor,
exposing a knife. Daniel apparently got to the knife first, and held
it out, trying to protect himself from his uncle, who was still coming at
him with kung-fu moves. Jack Carter was cut many times by the knife,
and so was Daniel. Jack was cut by one fatal knife wound to his
neck. As he fell to the floor, Cindy Carter walked in to the
room. Jack died in Cindy's arms. Daniel was in shock over what
had just transpired. He said he thought his Uncle Jack was dying. He
was right.
Cindy Carter said of the tragic events that
took place that late night in July 2002 that her " brother was the
casualty but my son is the victim."
The police were called and took Daniel to the
Escambia County Jail where he still is. Since Daniel was booked on First Degree Pre-Meditated Murder
charges, he must remain in the Escambia County Jail until his trial
date. He is not in a juvenile facility where he could receive
schooling and go outside. The Escambia County Jail has not permitted
Daniel outside in 6 months. He sits and waits and takes his
medicine. His mental health has deteriorated. Gone is the look
of the innocent young boy that was so vibrant before this terrible tragic
turn of events.
"There should be a sensitivity to the fact
that a 14-year old is not a little adult."-Gov. Jeb Bush from Youth
on Trial by Thomas
Grasso. 
