A Lake County jury has convicted 44-year-old Justin Lamar Jones in the brutal 2022 killings of two people at a Clermont RV park, and Circuit Judge James R. Baxley has now sentenced him to life in prison. The case, tied to a 2022 incident at the Thousand Trails Orlando RV Park in unincorporated Clermont, drew attention for both the severity of the crime scene and the survivor who managed to escape and call for help. Jurors reached their verdict after a three-day trial followed by an extended sentencing phase.
The jury found Jones guilty of premeditated first-degree murder, second-degree murder, three counts of sexual battery, and one count of false imprisonment, according to the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office. On March 5, 2026, Judge Baxley imposed a life sentence following the verdict, Inside Lake reported. Prosecutors said the punishment ensures Jones will not return to the community while the victims' families continue to grieve.
Deputies first responded to Thousand Trails Orlando RV Park on Aug. 31, 2022, after a woman escaped an RV and reported that she had been tied up and sexually battered, early coverage shows. Inside the trailer, investigators found 17-year-old Tyviontae Finister dead in a bedroom and 38-year-old Sandra Gaudino in the master bedroom, as reported by WFTV. The survivor told deputies she had seen Jones beat Finister before she was assaulted and later escaped to a neighbor's trailer to get help.
Arrest and confession
Law enforcement issued a BOLO for a Ford Explorer and later found the vehicle abandoned in a Publix parking lot off U.S. 27 in Clermont, according to Inside Lake. Officers soon located Jones walking nearby and took him into custody. After he was read his Miranda rights, Jones admitted to the crimes, according to the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office. Prosecutors later said the quick apprehension and confession helped move the case efficiently to trial.
Prosecution and courtroom reaction
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Nicholas Camuccio and Gabriel Lozano, and the State Attorney's Office publicly thanked the Lake County Sheriff's Office for its investigation, West Orlando News noted. After sentencing, State Attorney Bill Gladson said the life term gives Jones "ample time to reflect on the irreversible pain he caused," a comment published following the hearing. West Orlando News and the State Attorney's Office statement circulated through local outlets after the sentence was handed down.
Local impact and context
The brutality of the killings rattled neighbors and prompted a major Lake County Sheriff's Office investigation at the time. One law enforcement source described the scene as among the worst they had seen in decades. The slayings occurred during a string of violent incidents in late August 2022 that local media later chronicled. WFTV documented early reactions from deputies and neighbors as word of the arrests spread.
Legal note
With the guilty verdicts and a life sentence now entered, Jones will remain in state custody as the case moves into the post-trial phase and any appeals the defense may file. Local prosecutors have emphasized their appreciation for the investigative work that led to a swift arrest and what they view as a successful prosecution, according to local reporting. Authorities have not announced any additional hearings tied to the case.
