FMB library director murder suspect confesses to separate stabbing

Published: Updated:
2019 mugshot of Adam Soules – Photo courtesy of Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

A man arrested for killing the director of the Fort Myers Beach library Saturday also admitted to stabbing a person 10 days earlier. The victim was taken to the hospital, but a suspect was never located.

Adam Soules, 36, faces additional charges of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon after stabbing Robert Dale Keene, 60, for his “disrespectful” and “rude” behavior, according to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

On Jan. 9, around 10 a.m. Keene was leaving a Fort Myers Beach Publix when Soules demanded his wallet. When Keene said he didn’t have any money, Soules body slammed him onto a parking curb.

The next morning, as Keene was exiting a Lee Tran bus, Soules approached him. Describing Keene’s behavior as “disrespectful” and “rude” Soules grabbed his knife and struck his neck, per the arrest report.

Soules fled the scene.

Keene had severe trauma to his neck, which later required hospitalization, surgery, over 50 sutures and continued treatment.

Soules later admitted to the stabbing following a separate incident where he is suspected of killing a Fort Myers Beach library director, Dr. Leroy C. Hommerding Saturday.

New information entails that Hommerding death was pre-meditated, according to the suspect’s confession.

Deputies said Soules told them he wanted to kill Hommerding for a while because he disrespected him.

According to the arrest report, Soules told Deputies that once he saw Hommerding opening up the library that was his opportunity to kill the library director.

Scott Safford lives on Fort Myers Beach and occasionally saw Soules wandering around town. He and others are upset Soules was not caught sooner before his violence escalated.

“If it is the same gentleman that stab somebody 10 days ago, he should’ve been locked up,” Safford said. “Enough is enough. I think that’s how this whole island feels right now with the situation. Enough is enough.”

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