The Florida Supreme Court has affirmed the first-degree murder conviction and death sentence for Michael Harrison Hunt in connection with a 2019 home invasion that began with a fraudulent pizza delivery ruse and ended in the death of a young woman.
In a per curiam opinion issued Dec. 18, 2025, the court rejected Hunt's appeal of his conviction and capital punishment, ruling in *Michael H. Hunt v. State of Florida* (Fla. 2025). Hunt had raised six issues challenging his conviction and sentence, but the state's highest court found no merit in his arguments.
The case stems from events that occurred on the evening of April 4, 2019, at a Panama City home where Alexandra Elise Peck, known as Lexie, lived with her family. According to trial evidence presented by the state, Lexie resided in the home with her mother Jenna, stepfather Danny, brother Gabe, Gabe's girlfriend identified as P.O., and two friends named Brentley and Izac.
The violent home invasion began around 10:30 p.m. when a man knocked on the family's door claiming to have a pizza delivery. When Danny, Lexie's stepfather, answered the door and explained that no one in the home had ordered pizza, the man forced his way inside as Danny attempted to close the door.
Once inside, the intruder pulled a gun from his waistband and held it to Danny's chin. During this confrontation, the man's face covering slipped, allowing Danny to identify him as Michael Hunt. Danny also recognized what he described as Hunt's "very distinctive" voice, providing crucial identification evidence that would later prove important at trial.
Realizing the danger, Danny shouted "run" to warn the other occupants of the home. Hunt immediately snatched Danny's cell phone and shot him in the neck, causing Danny to fall to the floor. Despite his injuries, Danny was able to hear subsequent events unfold in the home, including what he described as a second, "totally different" voice, which investigators later presumed belonged to Hunt's accomplice.
The violence escalated as Danny heard several more gunshots coming from the home's back bedroom. Most disturbingly, he heard Lexie calling out "Dad, help me" and "Please don't kill me" before hearing additional shots. Understanding that Hunt would likely return to shoot him again, Danny managed to crawl to a neighbor's house, where the neighbor contacted police.
Meanwhile, Lexie had heeded Danny's warning and fled to the back bedroom where Brentley and Izac were located. The court opinion indicates that this is where the fatal encounter with Lexie occurred, though the document provided does not detail the complete sequence of events in that room.
The case involved at least one accomplice who remained at large at the time of Hunt's trial. According to the court record, authorities had identified suspects and the investigation into the accomplice remained ongoing during the trial proceedings. This detail suggests the home invasion was a planned, coordinated attack rather than a spontaneous crime.
Hunt's appeal to the Florida Supreme Court challenged both his conviction and death sentence on six separate grounds. However, the court's per curiam decision indicates that none of these challenges proved successful. Per curiam opinions are issued by the court as a whole rather than authored by a single justice, typically used for cases where the legal issues are considered settled or straightforward.
The affirmation of Hunt's death sentence reflects the Florida Supreme Court's conclusion that the trial court properly applied state law regarding capital punishment. Florida law requires automatic review of all death penalty cases by the state supreme court, ensuring that both the conviction and sentence receive appellate scrutiny.
The case demonstrates the serious legal consequences for crimes involving home invasions that result in murder. Florida law treats such cases with particular severity, especially when they involve premeditation and the use of deception to gain entry to victims' homes.
The pizza delivery ruse represents a particularly troubling method of gaining access to homes, exploiting victims' expectation of routine commercial delivery. This type of deception has been used in other violent crimes and highlights the vulnerability of residents to criminals who exploit common commercial interactions.
With the Florida Supreme Court's affirmation, Hunt's legal options for challenging his conviction and death sentence in state court have been exhausted. He may still pursue federal appeals through habeas corpus proceedings, which typically focus on constitutional violations during trial or sentencing.
The case serves as a reminder of the tragic consequences of home invasion crimes and the state's commitment to holding perpetrators accountable through the justice system. For the victims' family and community, the court's decision provides legal closure while the memory of Alexandra Elise Peck's life continues to impact those who knew her.