The Ocala Christian Academy community is mourning the loss of ninth-grade student Michael Melendez and his family members. They were found deceased inside their home late Feb. 6 in a case of what authorities say could be carbon monoxide poisoning.
Randy Osborne, the school administrator, said this was Michael’s first academic year at OCA, and he was thriving.
“Faculty commended his leadership abilities and his desire to study the Bible. While Michael was not a member of Central Baptist Church, he was deeply engaged in his local church community and was preparing to preach last Thursday evening. He enjoyed playing the piano, but more importantly, strived to serve God and others,” Osborne wrote in an email to the Star-Banner…