Carson Zorn
•6/19/2026
A man who murdered a correctional officer and a fellow inmate during an escape attempt from the Charlotte Correctional Institution in 2003 was re-sentenced to death on Friday.>>Video above: Previous coverage from January 23, 2026According to court notes, Dwight Eaglin, who was originally sentenced to death in 2006 for the 2003 murders, was re-sentenced to death on both counts of first-degree murder.In January, a Charlotte County jury recommended the death penalty for Dwight Eaglin following a two-week-long penalty phase trial. The penalty phase trial took place after Eaglin challenged his previous 2006 death penalty sentencing, stating that Florida's death penalty laws had changed since he was previously sentenced.Eaglin was found guilty of murdering Correctional Officer Darla Lathrem and inmate Charlie Fuston during a 2003 prison escape attempt. He beat both Lathrem and Fuston to death with hammers.At the time of the murders, Eaglin was already serving a life sentence for cutting the throat of a man and stabbing him to death in 1998.In January, following the death penalty recommendation, Janet Best, the sister of Darla Lathrem, provided a statement:"Our family is grateful that jurors made the appropriate recommendation. And we look forward to the judge imposing that recommendation, so that justice will finally be served. We miss Darla very much."DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
