Office of The State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Florida
Serving the Citizens of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties
Office of The State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Florida
Serving the Citizens of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties

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Consecutive Life Sentences for First Degree Murder and Armed Burglary

Valentine Russ, 76, was found guilty by a Hernando County jury of First-Degree Murder and Armed Burglary for shooting his son to death.  He was sentenced to consecutive life sentences. At a sentencing hearing, Assistant State Attorney Rob Lewis played a 15-minute victim impact video of the victim with his young daughters. Afterward the defendant stated that his son was mean to him and got what he deserved for disrespecting him. 

On February 9, 2022, Russ went to his son’s house on 7379 Robb Road and waited 9 hours for his estranged son to return home.  When he did return home, Russ confronted his son as he walked out of his bedroom, shooting at him three times, killing him.  Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Arnold, Weber, Martin, and Saverino responded to the Robb Road address in Brooksville and immediately took Russ into custody. 

Forensic Specialist Shannon Durling photographed the crime scene, processed and collected all relevant evidence.  While every deputy and forensic specialist played a key part in in this case, jurors were especially impressed with the Faro Technology used by Forensic Specialist Jordan Burchardt to give the jurors a three-dimensional walk of the crime scene, putting into perspective the key pieces of evidence collected by Specialist Durling.  This is the first time that the 3D component of Faro Technology has been used in a Hernando County courtroom for a crime scene walk in addition to the measurements obtained by the scans.