Man Arrested for Felony Murder in Death of His Stepson
Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested 41 year-old Jack Junior Montgomery for the death of his stepson.
Montgomery was arrested today at 4:10 p.m. and charged with Felony First Degree Murder for the death of Brice Russell. Conflicting information has been released from the Sheriff’s Office regarding the age of Brice Russell. He was either 6 or 7 years of age.
Montgomery is in custody and is being booked at the Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County.
At approximately 10:50 a.m. on December 30, Jack Montgomery called 911 call to report that his six year old stepson would not wake up and was not breathing inside Room 205 at the Masters Inn in Seffner, 6010 State Road 579.
Within minutes, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to the scene and found Brice laying in the bed. He was pronounced deceased at 10:59 a.m. by HCFR.
After a detailed investigation, Detectives determined that Montgomery had punched the child in the face, mouth and stomach with a closed fist, threw the victim around the hotel room and shoved his face into the carpet.
Montgomery was left in charge of Brice and his three other siblings while their mother, 28 year-old Donya Shenita Russell, worked through the night.
The children reported being woken up to the victim crying, being hit and thrown around the room. Montgomery threatened the same violence against the other children if they did not join in with him and strike their brother.
Under imminent fear of being hurt by Montgomery, one child did strike Brice. Ultimately, the children saw Montgomery pick Brice up by the leg and threw him against a shelf along the wall. The children told Detectives they saw blood coming from his nose and mouth and that their brother never woke up after that.
The Medical Examiner’s Office determined the victim’s death a result of homicidal violence.
Montgomery was just arrested at 3718 E 38th Avenue in Tampa.
Booking photos will not be available until Tuesday.