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Polk jury finds man guilty in 2007 stabbing death

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The Associated Press

Published: November 4, 2009

BARTOW - A Central Florida man has been convicted of first-degree murder in a 2007 killing that gay rights advocates have called a hate crime.

A Polk County jury found 22-year-old William Brown Jr. guilty Tuesday. He previously pleaded guilty to charges of arson and tampering with evidence.

Authorities say Brown and 23-year-old Joseph Bearden killed 25-year-old Ryan Skipper on March 14, 2007. Prosecutors say Brown and Bearden stole Skipper's car, stabbed him about 20 times and dumped his body by the side of a road. Law enforcement believed Skipper was targeted because he was gay, but sexual orientation was not considered in the criminal charges.

Bearden was convicted of second-degree murder in February and given a life sentence. Brown also faces life in prison at his Dec. 9 sentencing.

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