Lance Thomas Love, a 22-year-old resident of Tallahassee, Florida, tragically lost his life on July 5, 2015. Born in Albany, Georgia, Lance was a lifelong resident of Tallahassee and a graduate of Amos P. Godby High School. He was employed at Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Chevrolet and was a member of Lake Talquin Baptist Church. On the fateful day of his death, Lance was found alongside his beloved dog, "Stud," in their apartment on West Tharpe Street.
The circumstances surrounding his death were both shocking and tragic.
Lance Love and 21-year-old Cornelius Poole were discovered shot to death inside their burned apartment, with their hands bound. The investigation revealed that the two men were victims of a planned robbery that escalated into a double homicide. Walter Rayborn, a 21-year-old convicted felon, was arrested three days after the murders. Rayborn was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, arson, robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and destruction of evidence. He was also charged with animal cruelty for the death of Lance's dog. The investigation uncovered that Rayborn had planned the robbery with the intention of stealing money and drugs he believed were in the apartment.
Brandon Chisholm, 23, was also implicated in the crime. He was arrested on July 16, 2015, and faced charges of second-degree murder, armed robbery with a firearm, and burglary of a dwelling. Chisholm's involvement was confirmed through cellphone triangulation evidence and text conversations between him and Rayborn discussing the crime. Chisholm later entered into a plea deal and agreed to testify against Rayborn, receiving a 15-year prison sentence.
The case took another turn when Delynda Mercedes Aguirre, Rayborn's girlfriend, was charged with accessory to murder after the fact. Aguirre was accused of aiding Rayborn by helping him burn his clothing, bathe in bleach to remove evidence, and harboring him until his arrest. Despite claiming she feared for her life, Aguirre maintained contact with Rayborn and even visited him regularly in jail. Her involvement added another layer of complexity to the case, highlighting the lengths to which Rayborn went to evade capture and the network of individuals who assisted him.
The tragic deaths of Lance Love and Cornelius Poole shocked the Tallahassee community and underscored the brutal nature of the crime. The legal proceedings against Rayborn, Chisholm, and Aguirre brought some measure of justice, but the loss of two young lives left a lasting impact on their families and friends. The case remains a somber reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and the importance of thorough investigations in bringing perpetrators to justice.
