Adam Soules found guilty of murdering Fort Myers Beach librarian

A man accused of killing a Fort Myers Beach librarian has been found guilty of first-degree murder.

Adam Soules was charged with stabbing Dr. Leroy Hommerding to death on the steps of the Fort Myers Beach Public Library nearly four years ago.

According to Soules’ confession, the murder was pre-meditated. Lee County deputies said Soules told them he wanted to kill Hommerding for some time because he felt Hommerding had disrespected him.

The arrest report says Soules told deputies that once he saw Hommerding opening up the Fort Myers Beach Library, he saw his opportunity to kill the librarian.

The Jury’s verdict came in less than 30 minutes after a total of two hours of closing comments.

Proving First-Degree murder, the state has to prove the murder was premeditated.

The jury saw that through quickly after the state’s comments.

Soules’ defense argued insanity because what sane person would murder someone in broad daylight with witnesses and cameras catching Coules slicing a machete through Dr. Hommerding.

But mental illness isn’t enough for an insanity verdict.