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Sheriff: Polk County man shoots, kills ex-girlfriend to 'get rid of the Devil'

Posted at 11:29 AM, Jan 05, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-05 15:59:35-05

HAINES CITY, Fla. — A Polk County man is facing first degree murder charges after shooting two women and killing one of them because he said he, "had to get rid of the Devil."

Deputies say 56-year-old Lisa Bunce was killed by her ex-boyfriend David Murdock, 60, early Saturday morning at her friends home in Haines City. Her friend, 66-year-old Sandra Andrews was shot in the face by the suspect, but is in the hospital and expected to survive.

Bunce reportedly had a troubled relationship with the suspect that ended in 2017 when she moved to Ohio. She was back in town visiting friends, deputies say, and had received multiple calls from the suspect on Friday but had ignored them and blocked his number. In the past, the victim had told her friends that her ex-boyfriend made violent threats against her, deputies say.

Bunce was found in a closet of her friend's home with a gunshot wound to her head, according to deputies. She was supposed to return to Ohio on January 8.

Despite being shot in the face, deputies say when they arrived on the scene Andrews told them that "David" was the one who shot her.

"Murdock told us he had to get rid of the Devil' as an excuse for his actions," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Lots of people blame the Devil for their misdeeds, but it takes a person to pull a trigger. We are going to hold Murdock accountable for murdering his ex-girlfriend and trying to kill another woman."

Murdock is facing charges for first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, armed burglary with assault/battery and shooting into a building. Authorities say he called 911 and admitted to the shooting. He was sitting outside of the home with the murder weapon near him when deputies arrived. He is being held in the Polk County Jail with no bond.