Inmate testifies against man accused of Punta Gorda murder

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. Testimony from a fellow inmate suggests a man accused of killing a Punta Gorda teenager and setting his body on fire may have admitted to the crime.

But Mark De Sisto, the attorney for 29-year-old defendant Michael Russo, said Mitchell Brooks fabricated his testimony in hopes of getting something in return.

“He claimed he had no expectations, but we have letters that show he certainly had expectations to be freed from the jail,” De Sisto said. “And in that time, he has been freed from the jail.”

Brooks, who’s facing grand theft and racketeering charges, was released last week.

Russo is facing a second-degree murder charge and a first-degree arson charge in the death of 18-year-old Kyle Farishian, who was found dead after a fire was extinguished at the 7-Eleven on Bal Harbor Boulevard and Aqui Esta Drive in November 2015.

Brooks told state investigators that while he and Russo were both in jail last year, Russo told him he had no idea why someone would burn a body. But Russo quickly prefaced that statement, according to Brooks.

“And under his breath, I mean in a very, very silent way of speaking, he said, ‘My rage,'” Brooks said.

Russo also described how he set the fire, Brooks told investigators, making reference to a latex glove Russo is alleged to have worn.

“Russo said he had trouble lighting the gas,” Brooks said. “… But once he took off the glove, he was able to get the gas to light.”

The glove, which shows fire damage, was one of several items investigators seized from Russo’s home with a search warrant. De Sisto is asking for that evidence to be thrown out, claiming the state lacked probable cause.

De Sisto also contends the suspect seen in surveillance video doesn’t resemble Russo, as detectives claim.

“Our position is still he did not commit the murder, and we don’t believe any of the evidence we received so far will support it, as of yet,” De Sisto said, “but the case is still moving forward.”

Russo is due back in court Tuesday.