I think that some guys Mark knew murdered somebody, and he didn't give some relevant information to the cops, which meant that under the laws of where he was, he was a party to it too, even though he didn't actually do anything. So, the charge itself is murder, but you don't have to have actually killed anybody to recieve that charge in that case.
Bradenton Herald, The (FL)
September 1, 1989
Section: Local
Edition: Final
Page: B1
MANAGER'S KILLERS PLEAD NO CONTEST
Kate Murphy Herald Staff Writer
Two men charged in the death of a motel manager last year pleaded no contest Thursday to second-degree murder charges.
Assistant State Attorney Peter Dubensky said the plea agreements were not ``something we were happy about.''
He said conflicting stories told by the two defendants made it a question ``of who do you believe.''
Circuit Judge Thomas Gallen sentenced Carmen Tungate to 30 years in state prison in the death of Econo Lodge Mo tel manager Ballapuran Umakanthan in June 1988. Tungate, 20, who has no known address, had been indicted on a first-degree murder.
Charges of grand theft, uttering a forged document and lewd and lascivious behavior were dropped against Tungate as part of the deal, said Steve Lewis, Tungate's attorney.
Mark A. Edgington, 18, of 5528 20th St. W., was sentenced to 25 years in state prison. He previously was charged with accessory to murder after the fact, but that charge was upgraded earlier this month.
Tungate entered the court room hesitantly. His hands were clasped behind his back as he stood before the judge.
He answered questions from the judge in a barely audible voice.
Ellis was pleased with the deal his client received.
``There are always risks going to trial,'' Ellis said. ``They made him a very reasonable deal.''
After Umakanthan, 37, was strangled early in the morning of June 29 in a room at the motel at 6727 14th St. W., Edgington was arrested on the accessory charge.
Authorities issued a warrant for Tungate.
Luck ran out for Tungate in February when he was arrested in Virginia. He reportedly was trying to obtain a fraudulent birth certificate.
Tungate was fired or quit work as a day clerk at the motel after stealing money from the job, authorities. The grand theft charges stem from that, officials said.
Tungate planned the murder of Umakanthan, renting a room at the Econo Lodge and concocting a scheme to lure the motel manager to the room, authorities said.
Umakanthan came to the room because of a complaint about a faulty air conditioner, authorities said.
Edgington told detectives he and Tungate wrapped Umakanthan's body in a bedspread and moved it to another part of the room. They planned to get rid of the body, but decided to leave when they spotted a sheriff's patrol car near the motel.
The two men hopped into a car and drove to Tampa International Airport, where Tungate caught a flight out of Florida, authorities said.
Edgington was arrested the next day at Southeast High School, where he was attending summer school classes.
He remained free until private investigators for Tungate's attor ney uncovered information that Edgington's role in the slaying was different than what authorities had first believed, authorities said.
Edgington made statements to two people that he had strangled Umakanthan with his hands, Ellis said.
``Few people knew (Umakanthan) had been manually strangled,'' Ellis said.
Prosecutors filed the second-degree murder charge against Edgington on Aug. 14.
Dubensky said that if the plea agreement had not worked out he was prepared to take Edgington's case to a grand jury.
Ellis said his client ``regrets the pain he has caused Uma's family.''
Umakanthan's brother walked from the court room moments after Gallen passed the sentences on the two men.
``I'm glad it is all behind us now,'' he said.
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