One week after the first-ever murder in Celebration, Downtown Disney, Osceola deputies on Monday, arrested a man whom they believe is responsible for the murder of another man who lived on Water Street in Celebration.
David-Israel Zenon Murillo, 28 years, a transient living in Kissimmee, was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder and Dealing in Stolen Property. Investigators say that, Murillo confessed to hitting the murdered victim Matteo P. Giovanditto, 58, with an axe until he became unconscious.
Deputies said that Murillo early on was considered a person of interest as his photo was located on Giovanditto’s computer and his fingerprints were found in the victim’s condo. Phone calls from a gas station close to where the victim’s car was located were made by Murillo several hours after Giovanditto turned up dead in his condo.
Investigators said that on Saturday, December 4th, Murillo was brought in for questioning after they discovered he tried to sell coins owned by Giovanditto. He told detectives he was drinking with Giovanditto at his condo on November 24, when they became involved in an argument. Murillo became enraged and struck Giovanditto with an ax that he found in a closet. He told detectives he continued to his Giovanditto’s head into the floor until he became unconscious.
Deputies said that the medical examiner’s office confirmed that Giovanditto died from blunt force trauma and strangulation.
On December 5, detectives obtained a search warrant for Murillo’s camp site located in a wooded area north of Ramada Inn on East 192 and located the victim’s Apple Ipad, cash and collector’s coins.
Detectives searched on Monday an area off Columbia Avenue and Thacker Avenue where Murillo told investigators he discarded more evidence.
On Monday, Murillo was booked into the Osceola County Jail without bond.
Giovanditto was found dead in his apartment on 543 Water Street in Celebration, Downtown Disney, after a woman told deputies she went to check on her neighbor, around 9:37 am on November 29, and found a deceased person in the apartment.
The investigation is ongoing.
