Murder victim’s mother speaks out after police release video of man wanted for questioning

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida. (WSVN) — After Fort Lauderdale police went public with the crime, when a man was spotted on surveillance around the time a murder took place nearby, the victim’s mother spoke out in the hope that someone could help solve the case.

Debbie Lawrence, the mother of the victim, told 7News on Thursday. She described the selfless nature of her son, Jason Marus, 36.

“He would have given the shirt off the back. He treated me like a queen,” she said.

Through tears, Lawrence expressed her pain after the loss of her son.

“It’s like I’m numb,” she said. “I don’t know every day if I wake up and do this. Even though I have other sons, he was my sunshine.”

Police said Marus was found shot to death in his car on January 6 near his home, at Northeast 14th, off the North Dixie Highway.

His mother said that he celebrated his birthday two weeks before the murder.

“I am hurt and angry that they did this to an innocent boy,” Lawrence said. “I would rather it be me. I have lived my life. He was innocent; he didn’t do anything, he just sat in his car.”

Lawrence said her son moved to South Florida from Ohio eight years ago and loved his life in the Sunshine State. She said she last spoke to him hours before he was killed, adding that her world has since fallen apart.

“When you lose your son, you can’t describe the pain, you can’t. There is no worse pain,” she said. “He’s my boy and he didn’t deserve this.

Detectives are looking to find the man seen in the footage walking around the neighborhood around the time of the shooting.

If you know who this person is or know of anything that could solve a crime, call the police or call the Broward County Crime Squad at 954-493-TIPS. Remember that if you call Crime Stoppers you can always remain anonymous, in which case you may be eligible for a reward of up to $50,000.

Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.