January 2, 2019
At 11:55 PM on December 30, 2018 the Levy County Sheriff’s
Office 911 Center received an emergency call. A Cedar Key man reported to a
third party he witnessed a murder and frantically asked for law enforcement to
be called.
Cedar Key Police Department was the first on scene where
they spoke to the witness. This initial witness interview led police officers
to 3011 D Street where they discovered the victim’s body lying face down in the
edge of the water behind this home. Cedar Key Police additionally located and
detained another potential witness and an individual suspected of causing the
death. Cedar Key Police Chief Virgil Sandlin responded to the scene and
contacted the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division
(CID) for assistance.
The Levy County Sheriff’s Office CID personnel and the LCSO
Crime Scene Unit responded to the scene. Shortly after arrival, Chief Sandlin
asked the LCSO on scene CID supervisor to assume responsibility for this
investigation. The following investigation led to the arrest of one person,
Matthew Whyte (5-14-91) of Cedar Key for First Degree Murder.
Investigators learned earlier that evening of December 30,
2018 Matthew Whyte, an eye witness, Whyte’s roommate and the victim, identified
as Thomas Rafferty (12-5-63), were all hanging out and drinking together. The
four men, who were all acquainted with each other, live next door to each
other. The eye witness reported he and Whyte’s roommate got into an argument that
was eventually broken up by Whyte.
Whyte left the home for several hours and when he returned
Rafferty was still instigating the argument and wanted the eye witness to fight
Whyte’s roommate. Whyte, as the investigation determined was also under the
influence of methamphetamines, became irate with Rafferty and punched him. The
eye witness stepped in between the two and separated them. When the eye witness
stepped away, Whyte kicked Rafferty knocking him backwards out of a doorway
which led onto the back deck area of the home. A second kick by Whyte toppled
Rafferty over the railing causing him to fall approximate six feet onto the
shell encrusted marsh area.
The eye witness reports Whyte then jump down into the marsh
area, picked up a board and struck Rafferty twice. Whyte then drug the victim
to the edge of the water line, dropped him face down and held Rafferty’s face
in the water until he drown.
Evidence identified at the scene confirmed the eye witness
account of the murder. Additional evidence was discovered after a search
warrant was served at Whyte’s home.
Matthew Whyte was booked in at the Levy County Detention
Facility for First Degree Murder and is being held on NO BOND. Investigators
are still conducting interviews and anyone who has information is asked to
contact Investigator CJ Perryman at 352-486-5111 extension 276.