Juan Carlos Chavez

[chris]

DC Number:  M18034 Name:  CHAVEZ, JUAN C Race:  WHITE Sex:  MALE Hair Color:  BROWN Eye Color:  BROWN Height:  5'11'' Weight:  187 lbs. Birth Date:  03/16/1967 Initial Receipt Date:  12/09/1998 Current Facility:  UNION C.I. Current Custody:  MAXIMUM Current Release Date:  DEATH SENTENCE

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Aliases:
JUAN CHAVEZ	JUAN C CHAVEZ
JUAN CARLOS CHAVEZ	JUAN CARLOS CHAVEZ-GARCIA

Current Prison Sentence History:
Offense Date	Offense	Sentence Date	County	Case No.	Prison Sentence Length
09/11/1995	1ST DG MUR/PREMED. OR ATT.	11/23/1998	ORANGE	9811700	DEATH SENTENCE
09/11/1995	SEX BAT BY ADULT/VCTM UNDER 12	11/23/1998	ORANGE	9811700	SENTENCED TO LIFE
09/11/1995	KIDNAP;COMM.OR FAC.FELONY	11/23/1998	ORANGE	9811700	SENTENCED TO LIFE

Note: The offense descriptions are truncated and do not necessarily reflect the crime of conviction. Please refer to the court documents or the Florida Statutes for further information or definition.

Incarceration History:
Date In-Custody	Date Out-of-Custody
12/09/1998	Currently Incarcerated

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Circumstances of Offense:

Juan Carlos Chavez was convicted and sentenced to death for the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of nine-year-old Samuel James “Jimmy” Ryce.

Jimmy Ryce disappeared on 09/11/95, after being dropped off by the school bus in Redlands, Florida. Extensive search efforts failed to locate the boy.

Juan Carlos Chavez worked as a handyman for the Scheinhaus family and lived in a trailer located on their property. Chavez also cared for the Scheinhaus’ horses, which were boarded on a farm owned by David Santana. In late August or early September of 1995, Susan Scheinhaus reported to police that several items were missing from her residence, including a handgun and some jewelry. Scheinhaus suspected Chavez, but had no evidence to prove her suspicions. On 12/05/95, Scheinhaus, aided by a locksmith, entered the trailer inhabited by Chavez. Scheinhaus spotted the handgun in plain view. After further examination of the trailer, Scheinhaus found a book bag belonging to Jimmy Ryce. Several items in the book bag, including books and papers had his name written on them. Scheinhaus notified the FBI. On 12/06/95, Chavez was located and taken to the Metro-Dade Police Station for questioning.

During a 55-hour interrogation and having been advised of his rights, Chavez voluntarily and knowingly admitted to abducting, sexually assaulting and killing Jimmy Ryce. Chavez gave a detailed account of the abduction. Chavez confessed that he kidnapped Jimmy at gunpoint and then took him to the horse farm where he sexually assaulted and later shot the boy. Chavez transported the body to the Scheinhaus residence. There he dismembered the boy’s body and hid the parts by cementing them in three large planters.