A Florida construction worker accused of brutally murdering his Trump-supporting boss during a political argument has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Mason Trever Toney, 34, was acquitted of the 2020 murder of his childhood friend and boss William Steven Knight, 28, after a judge ruled he was legally insane at the time of the attack, as reported by Law and Crime.
The verdict, reached on February 7, means Toney will avoid prison and instead be placed in a secure mental health facility – despite the shocking details of the gruesome crime.
Knight, a proud Trump supporter, had been giving Toney a ride to work when an argument over politics turned deadly.
Witnesses say Toney, who supposedly had anti-government beliefs and was convinced the government was ‘out to get him,’ suddenly attacked Knight with a trowel, a tool typically used to smooth concrete.
The attack occurred near the Florida Turnpike on January 20, 2020.
Workers at the construction site reported hearing Knight’s desperate cries for help before running over to intervene, only to find Toney allegedly wielding the deadly tool and calling them ‘terrorists.’
Florida construction worker Mason Toney, 34, (left) who has anti-government beliefs, allegedly killed his boss William Knight, 28, (right) who was a supporter of Donald Trump, on Monday January 20 following a political argument. He was acquitted of the 2020 murder of his childhood friend and boss after a judge ruled he was legally insane
A bloodied American flag was found discarded near Knight’s lifeless body, further deepening the eerie crime scene.
Toney fled the scene in a truck but was tracked down and arrested in Brevard County later that same day.
Knight’s grieving mother later told local CBS affiliate WKMG that she had warned her son against hiring Toney, citing his erratic behavior.
‘This wasn’t about politics. There was something wrong with Mason,’ she said.
Toney’s next review hearing is set for August 11, determining his future in state psychiatric care.
Coworkers told investigators that Toney and Knight were friends outside of work, despite their political differences.
Knight was described as an ‘outspoken American who was ‘pro-Donald Trump’.
Toney was described as ‘anti-government’ and ‘very outspoken in his beliefs that the government is bad and out to get him,’ as per the arrest affidavit.
Deputies were called to the scene around 10.30am on Monday with people calling in saying Toney killed their boss along the Turnpike near State Road 528
Toney was charged with first degree murder and is being held in Orange County without bond
The killing comes as a shock to the Knight family who said Toney was a generous and loving friend to Knight
‘He was a friend of the family. My son went to elementary school with him and to middle school and high school,’ William Knight’s father said to WESH.
The killing comes as a shock to the Knight family who said Toney was a generous and loving friend to Knight.
‘He would give his shirt off his back to anybody, feed anybody,’ he added.
