Pictured Above: Owen Melin was a senior psychology major at USF St. Petersburg. Friends and family described Melin as always pushing people to be the best version of themselves.
Courtesy of Matthew Lee
By Catherine Hicks and Sophie Ojdanic
The man accused of killing USF St. Petersburg senior Owen Melin in a home invasion just a few blocks from campus in May is being prosecuted for second-degree murder.
The charge will, eventually, be upgraded to first-degree murder, the prosecutor said.
Courtesy of St. Petersburg Police Department
When St. Petersburg police arrested Joshua Pilley Jr., 19, on June 9, they charged him with premeditated, first-degree murder and handed the case to the Pinellas-Pasco state attorney’s office for prosecution.
Under Florida law, all first-degree murder charges must be filed by a grand jury. Due to COVID-19, the state Supreme Court has temporarily suspended all grand jury proceedings as of March 13.
“We had to elect to charge with second-degree (murder) due to this rule that prohibits us from a grand jury indictment,” said Jennifer Coyler, the assistant state attorney appointed to the case. “If we hadn’t charged him with something, he would have been released, so we chose to initially charge with second degree and when we have the ability to bring forth first degree charges, we will be.”
Melin, 22, a psychology major, was shot and killed while visiting friends at an apartment six blocks from campus on May 27. Police detectives have described it as an apparent home invasion that was not random.
According to police records, friends of the homeowner were approached by a man who asked to speak with the homeowner. When the friends declined, the man left to make a phone call and came back with two other men.
Melin was shot once in his left chest when the intruders entered the home.
Pilley Jr. was identified as a suspect by a fingerprint on a car he leaned on in the driveway and was later identified by a witness.
Police have declined to discuss their investigation of Pilley Jr.’s two accomplices because it is an active criminal investigation.
Talks are still in progress between the Melin family and the USF St. Petersburg administration about a possible honorary psychology degree for their son, who was only a year away from graduating.
“Owen loved his family and friends, and his goal was to leave a positive mark on the world by helping people in his own creative way,” said Matthew Lee, a close childhood friend of Melin’s.
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