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Clay County jury finds Cruger guilty of 2015 Green Cove Springs murder

He faces mandatory life sentence for killing Earnestine Hines

Clay Today
Posted 6/26/19

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Victor Lamar Cruger, Jr., of Green Cove Springs, was found guilty last week by a jury of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, armed burglary with …

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Clay County jury finds Cruger guilty of 2015 Green Cove Springs murder

He faces mandatory life sentence for killing Earnestine Hines


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Victor Lamar Cruger, Jr., of Green Cove Springs, was found guilty last week by a jury of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, armed burglary with assault or battery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Cruger now faces a mandatory sentence of Life in Florida State Prison. A status hearing is scheduled before the Honorable Michael Sharrit on July 9.

At approximately 4 a.m. Aug. 23, 2015, Cruger was a passenger in a vehicle being driven in Green Cove Springs. Cruger was the in the back seat on the passenger’s side when he abruptly used a 9mm pistol to shoot victim Earnestine Hines in the head. Hines was seated in the front passenger seat. According to the family, Cruger knew the family and Hines offered to give him a ride home.

Hines’ two daughters also were in the vehicle – one was driving, the other was in the back seat on the driver’s side. The van stopped when the shooting occurred and both of Hines’ daughters noticed Cruger trying to reload the gun. That led to one of the daughters trying to run away from the back seat.

Cruger then exited the vehicle and chased her before fleeing into the woods east of Washington Avenue. He was arrested five days later in Gainesville.

First responders and law enforcement responded to the scene at 319 Harrison St. to find Hines, who was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead upon arrival.

The case was investigated by Green Cove Springs Police Department and is being prosecuted by Asst. State Attorneys Ashley Terry and Hector Murcia Bustos.