Luke Ingram: Teen who ruthlessly beat & strangled grandfather to death sexually assaulted him as he died
PALM COAST, FLORIDA: Luke Ingram, who was charged earlier this month with killing his grandfather, allegedly sexually assaulted the latter as he died. The 19-year-old was charged on November 9 with second-degree murder of Darwin Ingram, 85, at 34 Clermont Court in Palm Coast. Prosecutor Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Dunton brought the case before a grand jury on Monday, November 28, and got the indictment on the charge of first-degree pre-meditated murder.
The aforementioned charge is a capital felony that could result in a death penalty. Dunton also added a new charge of sexual assault with a weapon after Luke allegedly raped Darwin with an object as he was dying. The charge is a life felony. Furthermore, the teen is also facing a charge of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, a first-degree felony, and three lesser charges.
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According to Flagler Live, the trial and Luke's defense would likely center around the perp's mental fitness to proceed. His father Clint Ingram, 48, revealed that his son has schizophrenia and that he had convinced him the day before to leave college in Georgia and come to Palm Coast because he had been acting strange. According to Luke's arrest report, he had arrived on the evening of November 8 at the home where his grandfather had been living for decades after retiring from a career in the federal government.
The teen reportedly had dinner with his father and grandfather staring at both of them throughout. Clint said he went to sleep after dinner "and locked his door due to Luke’s behavior," per the arrest report. He said he could hear his son talking to Darwin about the house dog and a watch before he dozed off.
This week in our circuit, two young men were indicted on First-Degree Murder charges - Luke Ingram in Flagler County and Zion Counts in Volusia County. pic.twitter.com/mq79WzfbBz
— State Attorney, Florida's 7th Circuit (@SAO7FL) November 29, 2022
At some point, Clint woke up "to a growl-like sound and screaming," and immediately got out of the room. He found Darwin lying bloody and unresponsive in the living room, while Luke was sitting in his grandfather's room. Clint tried to call 911 but was attacked by his son. He somehow managed to escape the house, being injured, and began frantically knocking on neighbors' doors to seek help and hide from Luke. None of the nearby residents opened their doors because it was just past 3 am. However, they called 911.
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Deputies arrived at the scene at 3.14 am. When they knocked on the door, a shirtless Luke answered and raised his arms. He ignored instructions from law enforcement and just stood at the entrance to the home motionlessly. Police bodycam footage shows an officer firing taser darts at Luke before he's taken into custody. WKMG reported that Darwin was pronounced dead at the scene. Meanwhile, the perp allegedly fought and bit deputies when he was brought into an interview room for interrogation.
Murder suspect screams as #Florida deputies use Taser guns to arrest him.
— The Aftermath™️ (@aftermathvids) November 15, 2022
Luke Ingram, of Dunwoody, Ga., is being held without bond on charges of second-degree murder, domestic violence battery by strangulation, resisting without violence, and resisting with violence. pic.twitter.com/pqIjW8iqru
Darwin died from blunt force trauma and manual strangulation, according to Flagler County medical examiners. The suspect had driven a white Honda Accord, from which deputies recovered a bloodied hoodie sweatshirt and found what appeared to be blood stains on the driver’s seat. Luke is now being held at Flagler County Jail on no bond.