“How many devastated families is it going to take? ‘Open House’ parties and underage drinking is not just illegal, it can be potentially deadly.”

At approximately 6:42 pm, Tuesday, November 7, 2007, in the course of investigating the suspicious death of Lakeland teen, Kyle Hall, detectives learned that an “open house” party was in progress at 2262 Garden Chase Drive in Lakeland.

Upon arrival to the residence, Polk County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives, along with an officer from the Division of Alcohol Beverages and Tobacco, Bureau of Law Enforcement, observed several individuals inside the residence and alcohol was in plain view.

The individuals at the residence admitted to drinking alcohol and there were numerous opened and unopened containers throughout the house.

Arrested and charged with Possession of Alcohol by a Person Under the Age of 21 were:

Rodger Clayton Wyatt, DOB 9/4/1987, 617 Lake Holloway Boulevard, Lakeland.

Rogelio Melendez, DOB 3/29/1987, 2218 Mable Hill Drive, Lakeland
Kristina Marie Fernandes, DOB 5/26/1989, 5204 Shephard Road, Mulberry.

Matthew Roy Morrell, DOB 4/13/1988, 2262 Garden Chase Drive, Lakeland, was charged with Open House Party.

Elizabeth Megan Mauer, was charged by affidavit, and released to her mother. Mauer’s DOB is 9/22/1989, and she resides at 5212 Messina, Lakeland.

“This is an ongoing investigation,” said Sheriff Judd. “‘Open House’ parties are dangerous. We will not tolerate underage drinking, nor the reckless behavior that it can create.”