NR 19-44 Merritt Island Homicide Arrest

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 22-year-old Da’rius Christian of Merritt Island for the death of his 19-year-old, half-sister, J’Meisha Gant. Christian was arrested after an arrest warrant was issued by a judge charging him with First Degree Murder. He was taken to the Brevard County Jail where he is being held on a No Bond status.

The investigation began shortly after 4:00 p.m. on November 3, 2019, when deputies responded to a residence on Ligustrum Lane, Merritt Island, after the victim’s mother returned home to find her daughter unresponsive. Deputies arrived at the scene and pronounced the victim deceased. During the autopsy, the Brevard County Medical Examiner found that the victim’s death was due to manual strangulation and ruled the death a homicide.

The investigation has revealed that the victim and suspect were alone at the residence in Merritt Island on the evening and early morning hours of November 2-3, 2019. During that time, a physical altercation occurred where the suspect strangled the victim causing her death. The death was not reported until the following afternoon when the victim was discovered by her mother.

For additional information concerning this News Release, please call PIO Tod Goodyear of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office at 321-501-7594.