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Hero Florida teen dies protecting his five-year-old sister during 'violent encounter' with burglar at home: 'He was his sister’s keeper'

Ryan Cole, 27, has so far been charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling and petit theft, with further charges expected.
UPDATED MAR 18, 2020
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA:  A Florida teenager has been hailed a hero after he died while protecting his five-year-old sister during a burglary at their home. 

Khyler Edman, 15, was found dead at his home in Port Charlotte this past Thursday, September 26, after a "violent encounter" with a man who had "broken into his home," according to the My Sun Coast.

His body was discovered after the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office received reports of an "injured" man running through the streets in Starlite Lane and Ocean Boulevard at around 4 pm. When deputies arrived at the scene, the suspect, later identified as 27-year-old Ryan Cole, ran, crossing the canal towards Conway Boulevard. He eventually entered the home of a man who called police to report that an "unknown male" was inside his property. He was taken into custody by deputies after a short foot pursuit and was found to have suffered "several stab wounds" to his hands and side.  

The CCSO said they then started canvassing the neighborhood and discovered that Cole had broken into a home in Starlite Lane. Inside, they found Khyler dead and his five-year-old sister unharmed.

Cole has so far been charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling and petit theft (Source: Charlotte County Sheriff's Office)

Deputies said a "violent encounter" had ensued after Cole broke into the home and that Edman died while protecting his younger sibling. They said Cole "received his injuries inside the same residence."

Speaking about the incident, Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said, "They [deputies] found that forced entry was made into a doorway and inside that residence, they found a teenager and a young child. It appears that the suspect had broken into this residence. A violent encounter ensued where we believe that the teenager was trying to protect the home, protect their younger sibling."

Cole has been charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling and petit theft in connection to the earlier incident, while an investigation is still underway to determine the charges to be brought against him regarding Khyler's death. 

The 27-year-old is reportedly known to the CCSO and was reportedly on probation at the time of the burglaries. He has a history of drug use and been arrested several times this year alone, including on charges of Trespassing and Resisting an Officer Without Violence, First Degree Petit Larceny, and Disorderly Conduct and Resisting an Officer Without Violence.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Khyler's funeral has raised close to $29,000 at the time of writing. His family will be holding a Celebration of Life for Khyler on Saturday, October 5 from 11 am to 2 pm in the Harbor Heights Civic Center at Harbor Heights Park. 

The 10th grade student at Charlotte County High School was described by a school spokesperson as "a good student and was well liked by his classmates."
He was taking honors classes and “was the kind of kid that anyone would be proud to call their son.”

"There is no hero that can amount to Khyler," said the family's spokesperson Crystal Stone to Wink News. "He loved his family. He was his sister’s keeper."

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