Second suspect in double Bradenton murders ordered held without bond

BRADENTON -- Ahmad Leon Dunbar, the second suspect in the Jan. 19 slayings of Karl Tuxford and Jordan Finlon, was denied bond by a judge Tuesday afternoon.

Dunbar, 38, was arrested last week in Columbus, Ga., and brought back to Manatee County jail to face one murder charge in the fatal shooting of Tuxford. He has not been charged in the death of Finlon, who was stabbed more than 30 times, although the sheriff's office considers him a suspect.

Tuxford, 38, was found shot to death in his vehicle just before 1 p.m. Jan. 19 when Bradenton police responded to the 1100 block of Eighth Avenue East to several reports of gunfire.

The body of Finlon, 23, was discovered less than an hour later when the Manatee County Sheriff's Office got a 911 call after two motorists spotted it on the side of Bishop Harbor Road in northern Manatee County.

The first suspect charged in the case, Dwayne Edward Cummings, 38, was arrested in the days that followed.

He was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and armed kidnapping.

Another suspect, Fredrick Douglas, 43, had been arrested on unrelated charges and questioned regarding the slayings, but never charged.

Dunbar was identified by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office as a suspect Feb. 15 after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On Tuesday, Dunbar made his first appearance in court before Circuit Judge Robert A. Farrance. He was ordered held without bond.

Assistant Public Defender Anne Hunter warned Dunbar not to speak to anyone not from her office.

"I know. I know how it goes," Dunbar responded.

The Public Defender's Office was appointed to represent him.

However, since it already is representing Cummings, Hunter indicated a regional counsel would be appointed as quickly as possible to avoid a conflict of interest.

Dunbar's criminal history includes two prison stints for two convictions of armed robbery and two convictions for the sale, manufacturing or delivery of cocaine.

He was most recently released in November 2007.

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 March 8, 2016 at 11:46 PM with the headline "Second suspect in double Bradenton murders ordered held without bond ."