A Lake County jury has convicted 44-year-old Justin Lamar Jones for the 2022 killings of two people at a Clermont RV park, with Circuit Judge James R. Baxley sentencing him to life in prison. The case, tied to an incident at the Thousand Trails Orlando RV Park in unincorporated Clermont, drew attention due to the brutality of the crime and a survivor who managed to escape and seek 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. Prosecutors said the punishment ensures Jones will not return to the community while the victims’ families continue to grieve.
According to initial reports, deputies responded to the Thousand Trails Orlando RV Park on August 31, 2022, after a woman escaped an RV and reported being bound and assaulted. Inside the trailer, investigators found 17-year-old Tyviontae Finister dead in a bedroom and 38-year-old Sandra Gaudino in the master bedroom. The survivor told deputies she witnessed Jones attacking Finister before she was assaulted and later fled to a nearby trailer to seek help.
Authorities issued a BOLO for a Ford Explorer, which was later found abandoned in a Publix parking lot along U.S. 27 in Clermont. Officers soon located and arrested Jones nearby. After being read his Miranda rights, Jones admitted to the crimes, according to prosecutors, who said the swift arrest and confession helped move the case quickly to trial.
Assistant State Attorneys Nicholas Camuccio and Gabriel Lozano prosecuted the case, and the State Attorney’s Office commended the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for its investigation. Following sentencing, State Attorney Bill Gladson said the life term gives Jones “ample time to reflect on the irreversible pain he caused.”
The severity of the crimes shocked the community and led to an extensive investigation. One law enforcement source described the scene as among the worst encountered in decades. The killings were part of a series of violent incidents reported in late August 2022.
Jones will remain in state custody as the case moves into the post-trial phase, including any appeals from the defense. Authorities have not announced any additional hearings.
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