Man convicted of killing friend in Panama City Beach sentenced to 40 years in prison

PANAMA CITY BEACH – A man convicted of killing his friend while on vacation in Panama City Beach in 2021 has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Three Arizona residents visited PCB in October 2021: Scottie Jay Black, 43; his friend Tyrell James Sagg, 41; and Sagg’s girlfriend. She is not mentioned in the release by the Public Prosecution Service; However, reports of other outlets have identified her as Didda Johnson, 34.

Both men lived in parts of Arizona that are part of the Navajo Nation, where Black was eventually captured for questioning, the news release said.

According to the release, Black and the victim’s girlfriend reported finding him dead on the floor of their hotel room. Previous reporting refers to the location as the Marriot Townplace Suites in PCB. The report goes on to say that suspects told investigators that Sagg had a heart condition and believed he died during the night.

Although there were no visible injuries to the victim, an autopsy later revealed internal injuries consistent with strangulation, the prosecutor’s office said.

An investigation by the Panama City Beach Police Department revealed that Black used Sagg’s ATM after his death and then fled the state.

Black stood trial last month and was found guilty as charged of second-degree murder.

During the sentencing, prosecutor Peter Overstreet told Judge Brantley Clark that the suspect refused to take responsibility for his actions. He also noted that death by strangulation is painful and that the suspect was indifferent afterwards.

This is despite the fact that Black is not a typical repeat offender and has done “some good things in his life”.

Overstreet pointed out that after the murder, Black had sex with a woman in the next bed.

“And after that, he just continued living his life as if nothing had happened,” Overstreet told the court, according to the news release. “These are quite aggravating circumstances after someone’s death.”

Black apologized to Sagg’s family for his actions, but Overstreet made it clear that he took something from the family that they won’t get back.

“But I think Mr. Sagg’s family is right: the defendant’s family can pick up the phone and call him in jail, they can have visitors, he may get out one day, but they will always have a connection” , Overstreet said. said in court, according to the release. “Mr. Saggs’ family won’t do that. They are left with memories of his children not having their father to see their achievements.”

The suspect and prosecutor agreed to a 40-year prison sentence, which Overstreet believes is sufficient based on the suspect’s age of 43.

State’s Attorney Larry Basford thanked the PCBPD for its work, including trips to the Navajo Nation in Arizona.

This article originally appeared in The News Herald: Tourist convicted of killing friend while on holiday in PCB gets 40 years