Prosecutor seeks writing sample from indicted murder defendant

PUNTA GORDA — Five years after being arrested on allegations of murder, Ryan Clayton Cole is being asked for a sample of his penmanship.

Prosecutors for the 20th Judicial Circuit's State Attorney's Office have filed a motion to obtain a new sample of Cole's handwriting by having him write in front of trained professionals.

"This motion … is sought for identification purposes only. It is not sought for the purpose of obtaining from the Defendant any testimonial or communicative matters," the filing read in court records.

The motion was filed by Shannon Doolity, the chief deputy assistant state attorney under State Attorney Amira Fox.

Circuit Judge Lisa Porter granted the motion at a hearing Tuesday, meaning Cole will be required to provide the handwriting sample under the supervision of "trained personnel."

Cole, 32, was arrested in 2019 in connection with a home invasion on Starlite Lane in Port Charlotte.

During that home invasion, Cole is alleged to have killed 15-year-old Khyler Edmun as the teenager tried to protect his 5-year-old sister.

At the time of his arrest, Cole claimed he had no memory of the home invasion. He said that he was in the midst of a blackout due to heroin and methamphetamine use.

Cole was also noted to have several stab wounds, after deputies arrested him at the location of another alleged burglary.

The State Attorney's Office announced shortly after Cole's indictment that they intended to seek the death penalty if he is convicted on the homicide charge.

Cole has remained incarcerated at Charlotte County Jail on pre-trial detention since 2019.

The case has dragged on as depositions were sought for both law enforcement testimony and civilian witnesses.

A recent court filing estimated there were about 175 witnesses disclosed in the discovery phase of the case.

The next court appearance for Cole is scheduled for June 26.