Office of the State Attorney

 PRESS RELEASE

 August 16, 2023      

         

State of Florida v. Nichole Ann Maks

State of Florida v. Cory Franklin Crooms

State of Florida v. Jerome Earnest Henderson

State of Florida v. Mack J. Smith

                                                                                               

Maks Case Number: 2023 303690 CFDB

Crooms Case Number: 2023 303768 CFDB

Henderson Case Number: 2023 303785 CFDB

Smith Case Number: 2021-100555 CFDL

 

Four Volusia County Defendants Indicted on Murder Charge

DELAND – The Volusia County Grand Jury heard four different cases today.

The first case was that of Nichole Maks. The defendant is accused of stabbing a man to death inside their Daytona Beach home on July 12, 2023, before setting the second floor on fire.

The second case was that of Cory Crooms. The defendant is accused of conspiring in the drive-by shooting near the Bellevue Avenue and South Nova Road intersection in Daytona Beach on May 31, 2023. The victim was shot multiple times and died from his injuries at the hospital.

The third case was that of Jerome Henderson. The Young Guns defendant, who is 20 years old, is one of the accused shooters in the Daytona Beach drive-by shooting.

Crooms and Henderson’s co-defendant, Devonte Smokes, was also indicted by the grand jury in June.

The last case was that of Mack Smith. The defendant is accused of stabbing a man multiple times inside his vehicle near the South Clara Avenue and West Beresford Avenue intersection in DeLand on March, 28, 2021. The victim died from his injuries at the hospital.

The indictments were handed down on Wednesday. Maks was indicted for First-Degree Murder and Arson of a Dwelling. Crooms was indicted for First-Degree Murder. Henderson was indicted for First-Degree Murder (Firearm) and Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon. Smith was indicted for First-Degree Murder.

Assistant State Attorney Heatha Trigones is the state prosecutor for the cases against Maks, Crooms and Henderson. Assistant State Attorney Megan Upchurch is the state prosecutor for the case against Smith.

 

For more information contact: 

Haley Harrison | Multimedia Specialist/PIO | Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza, Florida's Seventh Judicial Circuit | SAOPIO@SAO7.org