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On Thursday Michael Troy Hutto,56, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the fatal shooting of his 18-year-old girlfriend. The Salt Life founder pleaded guilty.  And claimed it was an accident. 

He was convicted on the charge of manslaughter with a firearm. And will receive 79 days credit for time served.

According to the probable cause affidavit Hutto shot and killed Lora Grace Duncan in a Florida hotel room in 2020. 

Hutto claimed that he and Duncan were heading to the Florida Keys to visit some of his friends. They stopped for the night at a Hilton. And they were playing around pretending to shoot each other with a finger and gun. He had the gun, and she had her finger.

“Mr. Hutto went on to state as Gracie was sitting on the counter inside of the bathroom, he pointed the gun at Gracie, at which time it went off and shot her,” police wrote.

“At that time, Mr. Hutto stated he put the gun in his black Adidas backpack and then left the room. Mr. Hutto also stated that he went and got into his 2020 green Dodge and left the hotel, drove until he ran out of gas at a gas station.”

Police had surveillance footage evidence showing Hutto leaving the hotel with a backpack.

Salt Life Founder escaped the scene

According to police, Hutto was found before Duncan’s body. He was 245 miles away from the crime scene, in Jacksonville at a BP gas station. And an employee called the police about a man who was on medication and shaking.

“Michael was reportedly twitching, making delusional comments, and crying while his eyes were rolling into the back of his head,” police wrote.

He was rushed to the hospital due to a suspected drug overdose.

At the hospital, Hutto confessed to shooting Duncan. He said, “Oh my God, I think, I hurt my Gracie.” And he started to cry.

He also insisted it was an accident.

When police arrived at the scene at the Riveria Beach hotel, Hutto was already in custody.

The room was registered in his name. And he left his wallet and ID card behind.

Duncan’s father was concerned

Riviera Beach police responded to a request for a welfare check on Oct. 29, 2020, at the Hilton Hotel.  Duncan’s father became concerned for her when he was unable to reach her for more than 2 days.

He tracked her down through her cell phone app. And contacted the hotel staff who opened the room for the police.

Duncan was supposed to be with her boyfriend, Hutto. And Duncan’s father alleged that Hutto was giving her drugs and keeping her sedated. When the father last spoke to her, “she sounded out of character and maybe on drugs,” he said.

According to the charging document, officers found Duncan dead by the bathroom door. She had a gunshot wound to her stomach.

“The body was covered in blood and there were live rounds observed on the floor,” police said.

The defendant is a co-founder of the popular clothing company, Salt Life. The company issued a statement that said Hutto sold his portion of the business in 2013. And was no longer involved in the operation.