PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The man accused of killing his wife, her parents and brother, appeared in court Thursday.

  • Shelby Nealy waives right to speedy trial
  • Nealy faces 4 murder charges; 3 in Pinellas, 1 in Pasco
  • Nealy accused of killing his wife and her family

During today's appearance, Shelby Nealy waived his right to a speedy trial.  A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled in Pasco County for May 20. 

Nealy faces three murder charges in Pinellas County and a fourth in Pasco County.  Nealy's attorneys have already filed a written plea of not guilty. 

Investigators said Nealy admitted to killing his in-laws, Richard and Laura Ivancic, and his brother-in-law, Nicholas Ivancic, a few days before Christmas.  Their bodies were found at their Tarpon Springs home on January 1, 2019. 

They said Nealy was trying to cover-up the murder of his wife, Jamie Ivancic, whose body was later found in Pasco County at a home that Nealy and his wife used to rent.  Investigators said he killed his wife in January of 2018 and used her phone to send text messages and photos of their two young children to family and friends to fool them into thinking she was still alive. 

According to authorities, Nealy was afraid her family was going to find out, so he left Texas in December and headed to their home.  On December 15, investigators said Nealy ambushed the family members one at time, using a hammer to kill each of them. 

Nealy then stole their car and fled to Ohio with his two children, who were take into custody there. 

Nealy was arrested on January 3 and was extradited back to Pinellas County on February 2. 

He had his first court appearance hearing in Pinellas County on Friday.

Prosecutors have already declared their intention to seek the dealth penalty for Nealy.  Officials said the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office has not yet decided whether to pursue a death sentence in the fourth murder case. 

Nealy's arraignment hearing Pasco County today starts at 1:30 p.m.