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Ocala
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Homeless man accused of stabbing elderly victim at Ocala Circle K

A 27-year-old homeless man was arrested after he was accused of stabbing an elderly victim at a Circle K gas station in Ocala.

On Tuesday, July 12, at around 6 p.m., Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Circle K located at 7676 N U.S. Highway 441 in reference to reports of a stabbing. Upon arrival, deputies observed the elderly male victim who had suffered multiple stab wounds, and he was standing in the parking lot.

The deputies spoke with multiple witnesses who stated that a man, later identified as Marcus Ryan Roessner, had stabbed the victim and fled into a nearby field. As deputies approached the field, they were unable to locate Roessner.

Marcus Ryan Roessner
Marcus Ryan Roessner

The victim was transported by paramedics to a local hospital for medical treatment and is expected to make a full recovery. An MCSO corporal made contact with the victim at the hospital and noted in the report that he had two puncture wounds to his abdomen along with a laceration that was consistent with injuries caused by a knife.

One of the puncture wounds was in the center of the victim’s abdomen, several inches above the navel and slightly to the right side. The second puncture wound was on his left abdomen, just above his hip.

The victim advised the corporal that he was returning to his home after visiting family when he stopped at the gas station. He stated that he was pumping gas on the passenger side of his Mercedes-Benz when he observed Roessner standing several feet in front of the vehicle.

According to the victim, he finished pumping gas and walked towards the rear of the vehicle when Roessner lunged at him with a knife. Roessner then allegedly stabbed him and asked for the keys to the vehicle.

The victim advised that he tripped, dropped the keys, and Roessner picked them up. Roessner was unable to get the vehicle started and proceeded to run towards the nearby field.

The MCSO report indicated that an Aviation Unit, K9 Unit, and additional deputies responded to conduct a search of the area around the field for Roessner. Two K9 deputies eventually located him hiding inside a locked shed at a nearby business.

Roessner refused to comply with commands to step outside. Forced entry was made into the shed and Roessner was taken into custody.

MCSO investigated the incident by viewing surveillance footage, speaking with eyewitnesses, and examining items of physical evidence at the scene. According to the report, investigators established that Roessner had attacked and stabbed the victim while he was putting gas into his Mercedes-Benz. Roessner then grabbed the keys to the victim’s vehicle and fled the scene after an unsuccessful attempt to start the engine.

The corporal interviewed Roessner, and he claimed that he could not remember anything from the gas station. He stated that he is homeless and had walked to Ocala from Gainesville to visit a relative.

Roessner told the corporal that he has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and is supposed to be on medication, though he was unable to provide the name of the medication. He recalled being “asleep” inside a shed when the deputies found him, but he reiterated that he did not recall anything that had occurred at the gas station.

Roessner was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held without bond. He is facing felony charges for robbery with a weapon, aggravated battery while using a deadly weapon, and burglary of an unoccupied structure, along with a misdemeanor charge for resisting an officer without violence.

A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.