Terry King, 40

Father of Derek and Alex King. Lived with the boys mother and her two children from a previous relationship until the boys were 6 and 7. During much of this time, they were not in an intimate relationship. After the boys mother moved and married, he placed both children in a children's home and foster care. Alex was returned to his fathers care within months of being placed. Derek remained in foster care for approximately 6 years, and only returned to his father's care 7 weeks before Terry King was murdered.

Witnesses and his sons say that King sometimes struggled to make ends meet, but was a hard worker who did the best he could at providing for his children.

Derek Allen King, 14

Son of Terry King and Kelly Marino/Janet French. Lived with biological parents until his mother moved to Kentucky and married another man. Was placed in private foster care with the Lay family, in Pace, FL. According to his foster parents, he grew more rebellious as he entered his early teen years, and was becoming more than they could handle. The foster parents wished to send him to military school, but Terry King refused.

Derek, age 13 at the time of the murder, stands accused of swinging the bat, ending his father's life.

Alex David King, 13

Son of Terry King and Kelly Marino/Janet French. Lived with biological parents until his mother moved to Kentucky and married another man. Was placed in private foster care for approximately one month before returning to his father's home. Alex did not want to be with his foster family, and truly desired to be with his father. This is the only information currently available about Alex's foster arrangement.

Alex, late in his 11th or early in his 12th year, claims to have became sexually involved with Terry's friend, Rick Chavis, 40. He wrote numerous "love letters" to Chavis, and at one time wrote "before I met Rick I was strate(sic), but now I am gay." Chavis denies any sexual contact with Alex.

Ricky Marvin Chavis, 40

Handyman Rick Chavis was the purported best friend of Terry King. Chavis assisted both Derek and Alex King evade their father during a recent runaway attempt leading up to the murders. Chavis stands accused of Lewd and Lascivious Sexual Battery against Alex King, and accessory after the fact to murder. Chavis was found not guilty for the murder of Terry King.

Chavis's past history includes a charge and conviction of Lewd and Lascivious Acts upon a Minor in January, 1984. He spent 6 months in jail.