Man told cops his friend ‘went to the elevator’ after he was seen plunging to his death from a 25th floor balcony

A Florida man has been accused of killing a friend who fell from a high-rise apartment balcony earlier this year.

Corey Hutterli, 37, is facing a charge of second-degree murder related to the death of Justin Zelin, 35. Zelin died on February 15 after falling from the balcony of his 25th-floor apartment at the Akoya Condominium building.

Investigators say Zelin placed a 911 call at approximately 10:20 a.m. that morning. During the call, he could reportedly be heard telling Hutterli to leave the apartment. According to the criminal complaint, Zelin referred to Hutterli by the nickname “Sasha” and repeatedly told him to get away. Dispatchers say the line remained open after Zelin stopped speaking, and they heard sounds that suggested a struggle taking place inside the apartment.

Police said Zelin’s voice was not heard again after the apparent confrontation.

Security cameras at the condominium captured Zelin’s body hitting the ground outside the building at about 10:30 a.m., according to investigators. Officers arrived roughly a minute later and found Hutterli outside the building. Police described him as being in an agitated state and noted that he appeared to have run outside without shoes.

Authorities said Hutterli told officers that someone had “freaked out” and attacked him. When an officer asked whether anyone else had been with him, Hutterli responded that he did not know where the other person was and said he had been trying to calm him down. When asked about Zelin’s location, Hutterli allegedly claimed that Zelin had gone toward the elevator.

However, police say surveillance footage showed Hutterli leaving the apartment about one minute after Zelin was seen falling from the balcony.

When investigators entered Zelin’s apartment, they reported finding the residence in disarray. The balcony doors were open, and Hutterli’s sandals were discovered outside on the balcony. Blood was also visible on the balcony railing. Officers reported locating clumps of beard hair throughout the apartment that were later identified as belonging to Hutterli.

Later that evening, detectives executed a search warrant and located Hutterli’s backpack inside the apartment. According to the complaint, the bag also contained pieces of his beard hair. Investigators suggested the bag may have been left behind as part of an effort to collect or hide evidence from the scene.

Police also reported finding ketamine inside the backpack.

After being taken to a police station for questioning, Hutterli requested an attorney. Detectives noted that he had cuts and lacerations on his hands, redness and scratches on his arms, and areas on his face where portions of his beard appeared to have been pulled out.

Months later, forensic testing allegedly linked Hutterli’s DNA to blood found on the balcony railing. Blood discovered on Hutterli’s clothing was reportedly matched to both Hutterli and Zelin.

Hutterli was arrested Wednesday and formally charged with second-degree murder as well as burglary with assault and battery. He is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, and a bond has not yet been set. Information about his next court appearance was not immediately available.

During a court hearing on Thursday, Hutterli’s attorney argued that the case lacks direct proof. The lawyer told the court there were no eyewitnesses to the events that led to Zelin’s death, no confession or admission from Hutterli, and no direct evidence identifying who caused the fatal injuries.

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