Port Charlotte, FL – A Florida judge on July 7, sentenced 33-year-old Ryan Cole to death for the brutal 2019 murder of 15-year-old Khyler Edman, who was killed while shielding his 5-year-old sister during a home invasion.
Following a 10-2 jury recommendation, Judge Lisa Porter’s ruling shows the heinous nature of the crime, which has left a lasting scar on the Port Charlotte community. The decision, hailed by prosecutors and law enforcement, has reignited debates over the death penalty in Florida, while Khyler’s family mourns an irreplaceable loss.
How It Went Down
On September 26, 2019, Cole, high on heroin and methamphetamine and desperate for money, targeted Khyler’s home in Port Charlotte, believing it might contain drugs or cash.
Using a tool to break into the carport around 4 p.m., Cole entered the kitchen, where he encountered Khyler, who was home alone with his young sister while their mother was at work. Armed with a chef’s knife to protect himself and his sister, Khyler faced the intruder in a desperate struggle captured on chilling home security audio.
Prosecutors described a six-second video clip that recorded Cole taunting the teen, saying, “Come here friend,” as blood splattered on the floor.
Cole stabbed Khyler four times in the chest and abdomen, overpowering the boy and leaving him to die on the kitchen floor. Khyler’s sister, unharmed but traumatized, hid under a bed during the attack.
Police later apprehended Cole nearby, his hand bloodied from grabbing the knife, though he claimed no memory of the incident.
The Case for Death
In a memorandum supporting the death penalty, prosecutors highlighted aggravating factors, including the murder’s occurrence during a burglary and its “heinous” nature.
“The Defendant’s voice on the video clip stating, ‘Come here friend,’ is especially wicked and shockingly evil,” they wrote, noting that Cole chased Khyler through his own home rather than fleeing upon discovering it was occupied.
The jury, convicted Cole of first-degree murder and burglary earlier in 2025, recommended death by a 10-2 vote, meeting Florida’s threshold of eight votes required for a death penalty recommendation under a law revised after the 2022 Parkland shooting case.
Cole’s public defender, Kathleen M. Fitzgeorge, argued for a life sentence, contending that manslaughter was more appropriate than murder.
In her sentencing memo, she described life without parole as “a slow, humane form of justice” that ensures accountability while allowing for “a lifetime of reflection and consequence.” She portrayed the sentence as a harsh but merciful alternative, stating, “It is a slow death, carried out over decades in a concrete cell, stripped of autonomy, purpose, and hope.”
Judge Porter, however, sided with the prosecution, delivering the death sentence in a decision that prosecutors and local law enforcement celebrated. “He had this coming,” Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said at a press conference. “There’s a special place in hell for individuals like this.”
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The Family’s Unending Grief
Khyler’s aunt, Christina Halston, spoke to WINK News, expressing the family’s profound loss.
“Our family is broken. Grief is constant, heavy, and unrelenting,” she said. “We have birthdays without him, holidays without his smile, an empty seat that reminds us every day what has been taken.”
She emphasized Khyler’s bravery and enduring legacy, adding, “Khyler mattered. He still matters.” The teen’s death has left his siblings, cousins, and community grappling with a tragedy that Halston described as incomprehensible.
The case has resonated deeply in Port Charlotte, a tight-knit community shaken by the senseless violence. On X, reactions reflected a mix of sorrow and support for the sentence.
“Khyler was a hero protecting his sister. Justice was served,” one user posted. Another questioned the death penalty, writing, “Life in prison would’ve been punishment enough. Why keep the cycle of death?”
The debate mirrors broader discussions about Florida’s capital punishment laws, especially after recent legislative changes.
What’s Next?
Cole’s death sentence will enter Florida’s lengthy appeals process, which can take years due to mandatory reviews in capital cases.
Khyler’s family, meanwhile, faces the ongoing challenge of healing while honoring his memory. The case’s emotional weight and the community’s response ensure it will remain a focal point in local discussions about justice, safety and loss.
Khyler Edman’s story stands as a poignant reminder of courage and sacrifice, with his family’s call for his legacy to endure resonating far beyond Port Charlotte.
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