Upper Keys Man Found Guilty Again for the Brutal Slaying of a Tavernier Couple

Jeremy Macauley has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. Circuit Judge Luis Garcia delivered the sentences on Tuesday, June 4. Additionally, Macauley received a 15-year sentence for drug trafficking, which will run concurrently with his life sentences.

On May 14, a 12-member jury found Macauley guilty on two counts of murder for the execution-style killings of Carlos Ortiz and Tara Rosado in their Tavernier home in 2015. This retrial followed the overturning of his initial conviction on appeal.

The October 2015 murders were among the most shocking crimes in the Upper Keys, shaking the typically peaceful Tavernier community. Profoundly horrifying and traumatic was the presence of small children in the home at the time of the murders. Neighbors discovered the children running down the street, who informed them their parents were dead. One neighbor watched the children while another entered the home, confirmed the deaths, and contacted authorities.

In April 2017, Adrian Demblans, the getaway driver, agreed to testify for the state in exchange for a 10-year sentence after being implicated in the murders of Ortiz and Rosado.

The sequence of events leading to the murders began in the summer of 2015 when Macauley and an Islamorada charter boat captain found floating bales of cocaine at sea. They brought the cocaine aboard and reportedly split it. The street value of the drugs was estimated to be in the six or seven figures. Macauley then enlisted friends, including Demblans and Ortiz, to help sell the cocaine. Ortiz, a small-time drug dealer and heavy cocaine user, started deteriorating due to his drug use and eventually demanded more money from Macauley, leading to the fatal confrontation.

Dennis Ward, the Monroe County State Attorney, commended the verdict and the efforts of State Attorney Dave Aronberg of the 15th Judicial Circuit. State Attorney Ward remarked, “This outcome reflects the unwavering commitment and hard work of State Attorney Dave Aronberg and his entire team. Their dedication and perseverance has ensured that Jeremy Macauley will face justice for these horrific crimes. I was confident that even after the first conviction was overturned on appeal, the evidence would again lead to a guilty verdict.”

This case was transferred to the State Attorney’s Office in the 15th Judicial Circuit by executive order of the governor due to a potential conflict of interest within the Monroe County State Attorney’s office.

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