Florida court downgrades Bonifay man’s second-degree murder conviction to manslaughter

HOLMES COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - A Bonifay man’s second-degree murder conviction is now reversed.

The ruling came down from the state’s First District Court of Appeal on Wednesday.

Last year, Matthew Peoples was found guilty of murdering Tyler Pate in 2023 during a shooting. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. After that conviction, Peoples filed an appeal.

(Related: Bonifay man sentenced to 30 years for murder)

On Wednesday, Peoples’ conviction for second-degree murder with a firearm was reversed. A judge said essentially, the case did not meet requirement for the second-degree murder charge. That’s why the conviction is now being amended to the lesser charge, manslaughter with a firearm. Peoples will now be re-sentenced.

Peoples will likely face a much lower sentence. NewsChannel7 reached out to the state attorney’s office, and we were told they generally don’t comment on ongoing cases.

Pate’s mother told NewsChannel7 that she “had no idea” the conviction was reversed. Friday will mark three years since Pate’s death.

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