A Georgia man wanted on murder charges was arrested at Port Canaveral while attempting to board a cruise ship, part of a busy day that saw six passengers with active warrants detained by Florida deputies at one of the world’s busiest cruise terminals.

Murder Fugitive’s Failed Getaway

Martell Murray, 24, from Georgia, was taken into custody on an out-of-state fugitive warrant after deputies discovered he violated conditions tied to pending murder charges. Authorities confirmed the warrant stemmed from an alleged violation connected to an existing homicide case. Murray’s traveling companion, Kenderia Burney, 24, was simultaneously arrested on a violation-of-probation warrant. Both remain held without bond at Brevard County Jail after their July 17 arrests.

Six cruise ship passengers were arrested at Port Canaveral after deputies discovered outstanding warrants and probation violations — including a 24-year-old Georgia man wanted on a fugitive warrant tied to a pending murder case.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said Martell… pic.twitter.com/M9n2AvrUiQ

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Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey announced the arrests on social media with his characteristic style, dubbing the county jail his “Iron Bar Lodge.” He quipped that Murray and Burney “still got to vacation together at the Lodge even though they got accommodations with separate sleeping quarters.” The sheriff’s office declined to identify the murder victim, specify which jurisdiction handles Murray’s case, or detail which release condition he allegedly violated.

Four Additional Arrests at Port

Veronica Hamlet, 38, from Tampa, was arrested on a failure-to-appear warrant and released the next day after posting $1,000 bond. James Otha Brewton, 66, from Allendale, South Carolina, faced arrest on a violation-of-probation warrant and was released July 18 after posting $500 bond. Two additional passengers encountered trouble upon returning from their cruise when deputies determined both were on felony probation but allegedly left the country without required permission from probation officers.

The sheriff indicated these two unnamed travelers would be detained at their respective facilities once probation officials completed necessary paperwork. Neither the passengers’ identities nor their original probation offenses were disclosed. Authorities also withheld information about which ships or cruise lines connected to the six detained passengers.

Sheriff’s Warning to Fugitives

Sheriff Ivey used the arrests to send a message about enforcement in his jurisdiction. He declared that anyone coming to Brevard County with outstanding warrants should expect arrest, regardless of their state of origin. The coordinated operation at Port Canaveral demonstrates how cruise terminals serve as effective checkpoints for apprehending fugitives attempting to flee jurisdiction or violate probation terms by traveling internationally without authorization.

Port Canaveral ranks among the world’s busiest cruise ports, processing millions of passengers annually. The facility’s high traffic volume makes it a strategic location for law enforcement to intercept individuals with active warrants. Deputies routinely screen passengers during embarkation and disembarkation, a practice that has resulted in numerous arrests over the years.