Report: New court documents in Ronnie Hyde Case

New court documents reveal the evidence prosecutors are gathering in the murder and child pornography trials of Ronnie Hyde.

The former pastor is accused of killing a teenager more than 20 years ago and dumping parts of his body in Columbia County.

“What happens now is there is a hearing between both sides,” said Action News Jax Law and Safety Expert Dale Carson.

Carson said that hearing will either make or break this case.

“The court ultimately decides what items and evidence, actually appears in front of the jury,” said Carson.

Carson said both the State of Florida and Ronnie Hyde’s Attorney are trying their best to present the evidence that will help them win.

The documents are the newest chapter in the murder case against Ronnie Hyde and also mentions two additional victims that Hyde potentially abused before meeting Fred Laster, the 16-year-old boy Hyde is accused of killing in 1994, hiding his body parts near a Lake City dumpster.

Hyde pled ‘Not Guilty’ in March, but since then the state has collected evidence like his car, cell phone and weapons from his Jax Beach home.

Recently, Hyde’s attorney requested some of those items back.

“The broader issue here is the defense is claiming that certain items were illegally ceased. In other words, there was not a proper seizure of those items,” said Carson.

The state responded to those demands, in the documents.

Prosecutors say they are willing to return the Toyota Scion, wallet, guitar equipment and music, but not the smart phones or guns.

“The state responded like, 'wait a minute, we’re not going to give you all of that stuff back'. Some of it is evidence of a crime. Some of its been sent off to the FBI laboratory,” said Carson.

Carson says the way the evidence was gathered is key.

“If the evidence was unlawfully gathered, then of course it can’t be brought in front of the jury,” said Carson. "It’s a very sophisticated system. There are rules, of evidence."

Carson says the evidence listed in these new court documents is key in the murder case against the former pastor.

"The court is going to see all of it, but the jury, that’s who we’re concerned with because they can get an inaccurate idea of what really happened, if the evidence is presented," said Carson.

Cox Media Group