TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A man has been found guilty in a 2021 fatal New Year’s Day stabbing, according to the State Attorney’s office.
A jury found Michael Lagrane guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery in the death of 60-year-old Lawrence Williams, after deliberating for around eight hours.
Michael Lagrane(Leon County Jail)
Law enforcement responded to an apartment complex on Lake Avenue on the afternoon of Jan. 1 where they found Williams, who died from stab wounds.
According to the State Attorney’s office, police also found items belonging to Williams were missing.
Detectives identified Lagrane as a suspect When a search of Lagrane’s home was searched as part of the investigation and officers found a watch belonging to Williams and clothes that appeared to be blood stained.
According to court documents, FDLE tested the clothes for DNA and found Williams blood on a jacket and pair of sneakers.
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LaGrane testified during the trial, saying the watch found in his home did belong to Williams, but it wasn’t stolen. He claimed Williams had given it to him to fix a problem with it, the State Attorney’s Office said.
He testified that he was at Williams’ home the night of the stabbing, but left before midnight. He said he returned later and the door was open and Williams was already dead.
LaGrane will be sentenced to life in prison.
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