On November 6, 2020, an assault at the Stage Stop Inn in Ocala, Florida, resulted in the death of a 53-year-old woman.
On December 13, 2023, Chad Paul Anciaux, aged 36, was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury in Marion County and received a life sentence, as confirmed by the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.
Surveillance footage from the motel captured the incident, showing Anciaux pursuing his girlfriend, Jennifer Powell, with a metal baseball bat. He struck Powell on the back of her head, causing her to fall, and then continued to hit her in the face and head.
Attempts by witnesses to stop the attack were thwarted as Anciaux chased them away. He then further assaulted the unconscious woman. Eyewitness Kristin Kemp recounted seeing Anciaux strike Powell multiple times in the face with the bat. Her fiancé, Daniel, attempted to stop Anciaux with a chair but was forced to retreat.
Powell, a mother of three, succumbed to her injuries ten days later at Ocala Regional Medical Center. The autopsy showed severe skull fractures and lost teeth, one of which was found in her throat.
The defense argued for second-degree murder, citing a “blind rage,” but Assistant State Attorney Toby Hunt highlighted the premeditated nature of Anciaux’s actions. Anciaux had a prior criminal history, including a guilty plea for failing to comply with sex offender reporting requirements and a 2011 guilty plea in Iowa for assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. Additionally, Anciaux received a five-year sentence for resisting an officer with violence. Florida law mandates life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder convictions, ensuring Anciaux will not be released.