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Jogger uses martial arts to turn tables on 18-year-old attacker who reportedly planned for weeks to murder him, keep body in closet to fulfill 'sexual fantasies' with it
Image source: WOFL-TV video screenshot

Jogger uses martial arts to turn tables on 18-year-old attacker who reportedly planned for weeks to murder him, keep body in closet to 'fulfill his sexual fantasies'

A Florida jogger used martial arts to turn the tables on an 18-year-old attacker whom deputies said planned for weeks to murder him and keep his body in a closet in order to use it to "fulfill his sexual fantasies," WOFL-TV reported.

What are the details?

Logan Smith of Cocoa had been watching his victim and studying his exercise routine, which included jogging past Smith's house, for about six weeks, deputies told the station.

Smith decided he would kill the man after watching a movie that included violent murderous acts, WOFL said, citing the arrest report.

He made his move on Monday, WKMG-TV reported.

Investigators told WOFL that Smith gathered a rubber mallet, an aerosol Axe deodorant can, and a bathrobe belt and placed them in the driveway of his residence between two parked cars in preparation for the attack. The station added in its video report that Smith placed a sheet in the driveway as well.

"The defendant walked directly across his street where he hid behind a light pole. He placed the mallet and the Axe aerosol on the ground next to him while he waited for the [victim] to come running down the street as he did regularly for exercise. The defendant waited for the victim to run past the light pole and proceeded to run after him," a deputy wrote in the arrest affidavit, WOFL said. "The defendant then tossed the ... robe belt over the victim's head until it was around the front area of the victim's neck."

The victim said he immediately realized what was happening and used his martial arts training to turn the tables on his attacker, WOFL reported, citing deputies.

With that, the victim freed himself and subdued Smith until law enforcement arrived, WKMG-TV reported, adding that deputies arrested Smith near his home in the 7400 block of Batavia Avenue.

Deputies said the victim told them he typically runs about four times a week and never saw Smith prior to the attack, WOFL said.

What else was part of the suspect's plan?

Smith said he planned to hit the victim with the mallet, spray him in the eyes with the Axe deodorant to disable his vision, strangle him to death — and then drag his body into his home on the bedsheet, deputies told WOFL.

"He further planned to place the victim's body into his closet where the defendant stated no one would know, and the defendant could have the victim's body all to himself," the arrest report said, according to WOFL. "The defendant stated that he also planned to play with the victim to fulfill his sexual fantasies."

Anything else?

Smith is being held at Brevard County Jail without bond on an attempted murder charge, WOFL said.

A reporter added in the WOFL video that a close friend of Smith's family said the suspect was diagnosed with two mental disorders at a young age, and that the "system failed him."

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