The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in the nearly two-year old double murder case.
Derrick Walden (43) is behind bars, facing two counts of first-degree murder for the shooting deaths of Cody Bennett (21) and Tre’ Lyons (22) in November 2023.
Just before midnight on November 27, 2023, deputies responded to a vehicle crash near Pearl and North Orange Streets in West Augustine. Deputies found the vehicle with Lyons and Bennett shot to death inside.
SJSO detectives responded to the scene, interviewed neighbors, witnesses, and collected evidence. Detective Cheyenne Kroul says they obtained surveillance footage from a home near the crime scene.
“Surveillance video shows a person walking from North Brevard Street towards the homicide scene, then running away around that time frame,” said Detective Cheyenne Kroul.
Through investigative efforts, detectives determined the murders occurred around 11:30 p.m. A review of Bennett’s cellphone showed he was communicating with Derrick Walden just before the shooting.
“Derrick Walden, he goes by the nickname of ‘Cheese’ on the street,” Sergeant Gene Tolbert said. “We believe that Cody had arranged to meet with Derrick Walden that night so that Derrick Walden could purchase marijuana from Cody Bennett.”
Based on the evidence gathered, surveillance footage, and Walden’s communication with Bennett, detectives identified Walden as a person of interest. The SJSO Special Investigations Unit was also investigating Walden for an unrelated narcotics investigation. The SJSO SWAT team executed a search warrant at his home in January 2024, about a month after the murders.
“We found several items that were relevant to the homicide investigation including Mr. Walden’s cellphone. Through the examination of that cellphone, additional evidence was found including a photograph of the murder weapon,” Tolbert said.
Detectives eventually located the murder weapon in a nearby pond. Another firearm, not related to this case, was recovered in his home during the search warrant. Because Walden is a convicted felon, he’s not allowed to possess a firearm. He was taken into custody and convicted of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon in federal court. He is currently serving time in federal prison.
“Based on the investigation to date we’re confident that we have identified the person responsible for shooting Cody and Tre’. That’s Derrick Walden,” Kroul said.
Walden has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder by a St. Johns County grand jury and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Walden will be transported back to Florida to face these charges. Tolbert says even with Walden’s arrest, there’s still work to be done.
“There are still questions in this case that remain unanswered and we would still like to receive that information. While this case has garnered a lot of attention from the public, it certainly doesn’t represent who we are as a community and I would just like to urge our citizens in St. Johns County to bring any information they may have forward to the Sheriff’s Office so we can answer those unanswered questions,” Tolbert said. ”There is a possibility that there are additional people that could be subject to charges but those individuals have yet to be identified that’s why we are looking for the public’s help.”
“The murders of Tre’ Lyons and Cody Bennett have impacted our community tremendously. I’m proud of the men and women of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. This arrest reflects our determination to fight for justice for the victims and their families. Regardless of how long it takes, if you commit a crime in St. Johns County, you will be held accountable.”
Sheriff Robert Hardwick
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office worked in collaboration with the State Attorney’s Office, 7th Judicial Circuit, United States Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to solve this case.
If you have any information related to this case, please contact the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office at [email protected], or call (904) 824-8304.
To report information anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).