Man Murdered, Another Critically Injured in East Orange County

Deputies continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a man inside a home on Orange County’s east side and another man who sustained life threatening injuries on Saturday afternoon.

35-year-old Santiago Velez-Prieto, a white male, was found dead inside a home in the 1500 block of Rivers Edge Drive off east Colonial Drive, when a co-worker went to conduct a well-being check on his co-workers.   

When deputies arrived at the home, another man, 44-year-old Gregory Groves, also a white male, was found in the back of the residence with a life threatening wound.  He was immediately transported to a local area hospital, but his current condition is unknown.

Deputies won’t say what might have led to the murder of Velez-Prieto nor how Groves was injured.   Investigators would only say, “at this time all persons involved in the incident are believed to be accounted for.”

The investigation is ongoing.