Lake Mary man charged with killing wife, son denied bond

LAKE MARY, Fla. — A man charged with fatally stabbing his wife and son on the boy’s 11th birthday, was denied bond at his first court appearance Wednesday.

Franklyn Duzant, 40, decapitated his wife, Evangeline, 52, and nearly decapitated his son, Nico, with a 36-inch samurai sword, in front of neighbors July 16, Seminole County Sheriff’s deputies said.

Duzant was released from a hospital Tuesday for what appeared to be self-inflicted stab wounds to his stomach, authorities said. He was transferred to Seminole County jail on two counts of first-degree premeditated murder. He has been appointed a public defender.

When investigators questioned Duzant at the hospital, he said he struck both victims once, and said the rest was “a bad, bad, bad, bad blur, a dream,” Lt. Dennis Lemma said.

Duzant did not offer a motive, but denied any arguments occurred before the killings. He acknowledged to authorities that he knew he was in trouble, but declined to comment further because he did not want further incriminate himself, Lemma said.

Authorities said Duzant did not have a prior arrest record and there were no reports of domestic violence at the home. Duzant was taken into custody after a standoff in 2003 where he threatened to kill himself at a local park. He was admitted for a psychiatric evaluation, Lemma said.

A memorial has been planned for the victims in Anchorage, Alaska, where the family is from. The bodies will be laid to rest in the Philippines, Lemma said.

Duzant’s next court appearance has been scheduled for Aug. 8.