Local

Jacksonville attorney for man accused in teen's 1994 murder was on Casey Anthony's defense team

Ronnie Hyde (left) and Attorney Ann Finnell

Jacksonville Attorney Ann Finnell has taken the case of Ronnie Hyde, the Jacksonville Beach man accused of killing and dismembering 16-year-old Fred Laster in 1994.

A court document filed Wednesday shows that the firm of Finnell, McGuinness & Nemazi, P.A. has been retained to represent Hyde.

Finnell told Action News Jax reporter Jenna Bourne on Thursday that Hyde plans to plead not guilty to the murder and child porn charges.

On Tuesday, Action News Jax reported that Hyde is now facing 12 child pornography charges.

1994 FRED LASTER COLD CASE: Family of missing teen suspected Hyde for decades | Who is Ronnie Hyde, suspect in 1994 murder? | Why did it take 23 years to make arrest in Laster case? | Major challenges ahead for investigators 

The former youth pastor was arrested March 7 after investigators matched his DNA to DNA found with Laster's body in 1994.

One of Finnell's most famous cases was featured in an Oscar-winning documentary "Murder on a Sunday Morning." Finnell was also on Casey Anthony's defense team. Finnell also defended Ryan Wilder, one of the defendants accused in the 2012 killing of Clay County Detective David White.