Bradenton man indicted on first-degree murder charges in connection with kidnapping, double homicide in Manatee

MANATEE -- The Bradenton man detectives say shot Karl John Tuxford five times, and stabbed Jordan Finlon more than 30 times after kidnapping them at gunpoint in an act of revenge for the couple stealing money from him, has been indicted on first-degree murder charges.

After convening for about three hours, a grand jury handed up an indictment Wednesday afternoon charging Dwayne E. Cummings with two counts first-degree murder, armed kidnapping and possession of firearm by a convicted felon, according to the State Attorney's Office.

If convicted, Cummings could face the death penalty or life in prison.

On Jan. 19, Tuxford, 38, was found shot to death in his vehicle in the 1100 block of Eighth Avenue East after Bradenton police responded to several reports of gunfire.

Less than an hour later, the sheriff's office got a 911 call after two motorists spotted the body of Finlon, 23, dead on the side of Bishop Harbor Road in northern Manatee County.

Family members told detectives the two were a couple.

Cummings, 38, was arrested two days after the killings, along with Fredrick Douglas, 43, who was initially a suspect.

Douglas was questioned after surrendering and being arrested on an unrelated felony warrant for a domestic

battery charge. He has not been charged in connection with the homicides, according to sheriff's office spokesman Dave Bristow.

Cummings is also charged with violation of probation for a Sarasota case that includes nine armed kidnapping convictions.

Detectives believe a third person is possibly involved.

The case remains under investigation, Bristow said.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 11:48 PM with the headline "Bradenton man indicted on first-degree murder charges in connection with kidnapping, double homicide in Manatee ."