Suspect Found Guilty, Sentenced to Life in Osceola County Murder Case

Photo provided to iSkyNews.com by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office

By Staff Reporter

iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published January 30th, 2026

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Suspect Found Guilty, Sentenced to Life in Osceola County Murder Case

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A man accused in a deadly 2024 shooting has been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

On January 29, 2026, Kevin Walter Duda, 56, was found guilty of first-degree murder following a jury trial. After the verdict, Duda was sentenced to life in prison.

The case dates back to June 12, 2024, when deputies responded to the entrance of the Ponderosa RV area on Fortune Road after receiving reports of an unresponsive man lying on the ground. The victim, Nicholas Brank (born June 1, 1980), was transported to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Investigators determined that Duda and Brank knew each other and had been involved in a verbal dispute the year prior. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the fatal confrontation occurred when Duda obtained a handgun and later encountered Brank. Authorities say Brank was unarmed and unable to defend himself when he was shot and killed.

Detectives with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office identified Duda as a suspect, located him nearby, and took him into custody. The investigation included extensive work by homicide detectives, who secured video surveillance, located a witness, and recovered the murder weapon.

The Sheriff’s Office credited the successful prosecution to the efforts of homicide detective Benjamin Maclean and the entire homicide unit.

Stay with iSkyNews.com for continuing coverage of major court cases and public safety news across Central Florida.

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