St. Lucie County - Thursday October 12, 2023: St. Lucie County Sheriff detectives have arrested 20-year-old Nathaniel Daniel Wood, of Fort Pierce, for the murder of 33-year-old David Christian Wallace.
Wood was taken into custody at 5:39 p.m. Wednesday evening, He has been charged with:
- First-Degree Premediated Murder
- Armed Robbery
- Tampering with Evidence
- Possession of a Weapon or Ammo by a Convicted Felon
It was Wood who initially reported the death of Wallace to police on the morning of September 21. But during a news conference Thursday morning Sheriff Ken Mascara revealed that "Wood fabricated his original story in an attempt to cover up the murder."
Sheriff Mascara said that Wood "provided a full confession and the location of the murder weapon." The weapon, a Kel-Tec pistol, was recovered, said the Sheriff.
SLCSO detective Anthony Scupo, who investigated the case, said Wallace and Wood "developed a friendship" earlier this year "when they were both incarcerated in the St. Lucie County jail."
Wallace was a tile installer and ended up hiring Wood "a couple of months ago," said Detective Scupo. He said Wood shot Wallace in the early hours of September 21st following an argument they had the day before.
"From what we've gathered," said Scupo, "they were very close friends and this argument happened that ... led to Wood's motive." He declined to describe the nature of the argument that occurred on September 20th.
Sheriff Mascara said Wood waited until later in the morning of the 21st before calling 911 and report that he was at Wallace's apartment to pick him up for work but he found him dead.
Wood has a criminal history, said the Sheriff, which includes burglary and grand theft. As a convicted felon, said Mascara, "he had no lawful reason to be in possession of a firearm."
Detectives are still following up on leads associated with this case.
Anyone with any information related to this case, please contact detectives at 772-462-3230 or call contact Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 772-273-TIPS.
