Theorgood Found Guilty

State Attorney Bill Eddins announced Nov.21 that Eric Sydnor Theorgood, 44, of Gulf Breeze was convicted on Tuesday of Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling While Wearing a Hood or Mask. The Santa Rosa County jury deliberated for approximately 40 minutes before finding Theorgood guilty
as charged.  On January 23, 2012, a couple from Pennsylvania and their 4 year old son were staying in a room on the second floor of the Quality Inn, 51 Gulf Breeze Parkwy, Gulf Breeze while vacationing on the Gulf Coast. Around 3:00 a.m. Theorgood climbed up to the balcony and over the rail, entering
their room through the balcony door that was left ajar. The couple awoke to find Theorgood in their room wearing a white cloth covering his head. They forced the intruder back out the door and over the balcony before calling 911. A canine track led officers toward the bridge and to several items
that Theorgood had discarded, including a pillow case which had two eye holes burned in it. Blood from the pillow case was analyzed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Regional Crime Lab and the DNA matched the DNA of Theorgood. A news segment on WEAR was done on the
burglary which showed a picture of the suspect. Shortly after Channel 3 aired the news clip, Theorgood called Investigator Chris Henderson with Gulf Breeze Police Department and told Henderson that he had nothing to do with the break-in. When confronted with the physical evidence, Theorgood called back later and claimed he was playing a joke on some friends and had entered the wrong room; however, he could not provide the names of the friends.
Circuit Judge Marci Goodman set sentencing for January 9, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Theorgood faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys James Parker and Jason English.