KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Court documents show that a man charged with killing three men in Osceola County over the weekend was charged with attempted murder in 2021, but was released when a judge found him not guilty by reason of insanity.
Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, 29, has been charged in the shooting deaths of Douglas Kraft, of Columbus, Ohio, Robert Kraft, of Holland, Mich., and James Puchan, of Galena, Ohio, just after noon on Saturday.
What You Need To Know
- Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, 29, has been charged in the shooting deaths of Douglas Kraft, of Columbus, Ohio, Robert Kraft, of Holland, Mich., and James Puchan, of Galena, Ohio, just after noon on Saturday
- The men’s families said they were in town for a car show and were shot and killed while they waited for assistance with their rental car
- Court records show that Bojeh was charged with attempted murder in 2021, but was found not guilty by reason of insanity
- State Attorney Monique Worrell responded in a statement after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier criticized her handling of the 2021 case, saying “the court, not the prosecutor, determined the outcome”
In a joint statement Tuesday, family members of the men said they were getting ready to travel home after attending a car show in Kissimmee, and had been waiting for help with their rental car when they were killed.
Investigators with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened outside a residence in the Indian Hill subdivision near Kissimmee. They said Bojeh was quickly located after the shooting and has been charged with three counts of premeditated murder. Sheriff’s Office officials have not released any information on a possible motive for the killings.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, though, noted that Bojeh was free despite being charged with attempted murder in 2021. In that case, a judge found Bojeh’s insanity defense compelling and found him not guilty on Dec. 20, 2022.
He criticized State Attorney Monique Worrell’s handling of the 2021 case, saying in a post on X: “It appears she didn’t put up a fight to Bojeh’s use of the insanity defense, and he was allowed to go free.”
Circuit Court Judge Keith Carsten ordered Bojeh to be released on Dec. 21, 2022, as long as he fulfilled conditions, which included getting mental health treatment and complying with all treatment recommendations — including taking prescribed medication — not owning or having access to firearms, and having no contact with the victims or witnesses in the case.
According to court filings in Saturday’s triple-homicide case, investigators reported finding two handguns hidden under Bojeh’s bed at a residence in the 200 block of Indian Point Circle.
A filing from his attorney in 2024 shows that after his acquittal, Bojeh was ordered into the Ninth Judicial Circuit’s Problem Solving Courts, which, according to the court’s website, “coordinates with judiciary, criminal justice entities, and treatment providers to address the participant’s underlying issues contributing to their criminal behavior. This is achieved through targeted and supportive services while also holding participants responsible for their actions.”
Few details were released following the verdict, but in a 2023 filing, a mental health specialist told the court that Bojeh “has attended his psychiatric appointments and has been compliant with taking his medications as prescribed. He has acquired employment at McDonald’s and (is) happy with his job. He attends his appointments with me. He is always on time and has not missed any appointments.”
Filings from Aug. 15, 2023, and March 12, 2024, indicate he was in compliance with court requirements associated with the case.
In response to Uthmeier’s accusations, Worrell released the following statement:
“The Attorney General’s claim shows he fundamentally misunderstands both the facts and the law. This case was fully litigated at trial — where the court, not the prosecutor, determined the outcome after hearing evidence and expert testimony.
Suggesting that a prosecutor failed to ‘put up a fight’ because a judge ruled a defendant incompetent reflects a fundamental lack of understanding of how the criminal legal system works. Prosecutors argue cases within the confines of the law. Judges decide them.
The fact that someone running to be the state’s top attorney would seek to politicize the tragic deaths of three people is shameful and further evidence that he is unfit for the role of Attorney General. Prosecutors are obligated to follow the law, not manufacture outcomes to satisfy political narratives. Undermining judicial decisions for political gain weakens public trust in the justice system and disrespects the victims and their families.
I remain committed to having a serious conversation on how we can address the real issues — and that would be the inadequacies in how the system responds to offenses involving people with severe mental illness, not on misrepresenting court proceedings for political attention.”
Family Speaks Out
In their joint statement, family members of victims of Saturday’s triple homicide in Osceola County were described as “beloved husbands, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers and friends.”
“These three wonderful men did not deserve this,” the statement said. “Our families are left with an unexpected, unimaginable loss that cannot be put into words. We ask for privacy, prayers, and respect as we mourn and begin to process this tragedy.
“We are grateful for the outpouring of concern and for the quick response efforts of local law enforcement, the detectives, the medical examiners, and the various state agencies who are assisting with this investigation. Further details will be shared by our families or official representatives when appropriate. For now, please respect our need for space and time to grieve.”
Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon said the investigation into the shootings is ongoing.
“There is no threat to the community, as a suspect of these horrific and senseless murders and been caught and arrested by Osceola County deputies,” he said in a statement.
Bojeh is currently being held without bond at the Osceola County Jail.
