Police chief says pair is cooperating in slaying investigation

BROOKSVILLE — Two men who initially were considered people of interest in the slaying last week of a Brooksville real estate agent will probably not be charged in the case, Police Chief George Turner said Tuesday.

Turner said Herman Johnson, 30, and D'Edward Webster, 22, both of Brooksville, have cooperated with authorities as they seek information about the Jan. 20 death of Steven Floyd Van Slyke. Neither of the men have been arrested in connection with the slaying but are likely to face charges in unrelated cases, Turner said.

Monty Gregg Albright, a 35-year-old homeless man, was charged Jan. 21 in connection with Van Slyke's death. Albright told police he knew Van Slyke for three weeks before he strangled him in his home and went on a drug-addled spending spree with the victim's bank card.

Johnson and Webster allegedly accompanied Albright on that spending spree in a pickup truck. Johnson was the driver of the 1999 maroon Ford F-150, and Albright and Webster were both passengers.

"They had more of a role in helping (Albright) spend his stolen proceeds," Turner said. "They drove him around. They had a lot to do with it, leading us to our suspect.

"It's undetermined whether they'll face charges in regards to the use of the credit card," Turner said Tuesday. "But right now, they're cooperating with us."

Investigators said Van Slyke, 58, was found dead inside his home at 27 Cherry St. after a friend entered the home on the afternoon of Jan. 20 and discovered the body.

Albright, who was on court-ordered supervision at the time, allegedly entered the home on Jan. 19, overpowered Van Slyke, tied him to a chair and obtained his ATM card personal identification number. Albright then withdrew about $5,000 from Van Slyke's bank account, returned to the home, strangled the victim and then visited a number of cash advance locations to withdraw money, according to police.

Albright bought and sold items, such as jewelry, to get more cash. He used it all to buy crack cocaine, Turner said.

Van Slyke had hired Albright to do odd jobs around his home, Turner said. And it's something Van Slyke appears to have done in the past with other transients.

"Supposedly, Mr. Van Slyke had reached out to (Albright) and gave him opportunities to earn money," Turner said. "We've heard that he was very trusting. And he may have done this with a lot of other people. Maybe he was overly trusting."

Albright, Johnson and Webster have each been arrested multiple times, most often on drug charges. In particular, Johnson has an 18-page Florida Department of Law Enforcement file that includes arrests in Hernando on charges of possession and sale of crack cocaine and vehicle theft.

Times researcher Shirl Kennedy contributed to this report. Joel Anderson can be reached at joelanderson@sptimes.com or (352) 754-6120.