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Who is Michael Troy Hutto? 'Salt Life' co-founder arrested after Florida teen found shot dead in hotel room

Salt Life posted that Hutto has had no role in the company since 2013, 'Sadly we have learned one of Salt Life’s co-founders has been charged with a felony. Salt Life sends their utmost sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased'

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: A co-founder of the Salt Life clothing company has been accused of murdering a teenager whose body was found inside a South Florida hotel room. The police revealed that on Friday, October 30, they arrested Michael Troy Hutto, 54, who they believe is the suspect in the fatal shooting of Lora Grace Duncan, 18, CrimeOnline had earlier reported. Duncan's parents had asked the authorities to check on her after they learned that she had left the Jacksonville area with someone voluntarily, CrimeOnline reports. 

Detectives were able to determine that the woman could possibly be at a hotel located in Riviera Beach which is around 300 miles from Jacksonville. The body of Duncan was found on Thursday morning, October 30. Duncan was found dead inside a room at the Hilton Singer Island Oceanfront/Palm Beaches Resort and had at least one gunshot wound. According to WJXT, investigators found and located Hutto who was having an unknown medical emergency after which he was hospitalized before being taken to jail. 

As per pictures of Hutto's arrest shared by the Florida Highway Patrol, he was seen wearing hospital scrubs while being put into a police car. He is being detained without bail on warrants which charge him for manslaughter and felony possession of a firearm, jail records reveal, the Times Union states. Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter spoke in a press release and said, "Our deepest sympathies go out to the victim’s family of this tragic event. Although we hoped for a better outcome, we will assist in any way possible to help bring those responsible to justice."

How exactly did Hutto and Duncan know each other is not determined. On Saturday, October 31, Salt Life had taken to Facebook to share that Hutto has had no role in the company since 2013. The post reads, "Sadly we have learned one of Salt Life’s co-founders has been charged with a felony. Salt Life sends their utmost sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased." In 2013, the co-founders of Salt Life sold their entire business to the new owners. The co-founders have not been associated with the brand in any way since the purchase in 2013," the post continued. 

In 2003, Hutto had come up with the phrase 'Salt Life' to represent his ocean-based lifestyle which identified the lifestyle and beach attire clothing brand. Hutto had said that he had been using the phrase 'salt life' for years before he thought about how it would be a selling point for his beach attire. 

Many social media users have reacted in anger at the news and have slammed Hutto for his actions. One such user had written, "he is nothing but a juvenile delinquent with Money and a big thorn in our Neighborhood. and Very tragic death of an innocent young lady had to happen to put this gun-toting careless human of a being ... behind Bars .and hope they give him Death !!!"

Another added, "18-year-old with a 54-year-old what could go wrong? Salt Life turned into Pepper Death. That circle has some drug demons stretching back decades. Justice must be served. Meantime no more Salt Life."