Craven sentenced to 65 years in Lynn Haven murder

A 65-year prison sentence was ordered today for a 17-year-old found guilty last month of chasing down and stabbing to death another teen after a drug deal turned violent, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Savien Thaniel Craven, of Panama City, was found guilty as charged Feb. 14 of Second-Degree Murder in the Dec. 5, 2021, stabbing death of Jacob Revis, 14, of Panama City. Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson sentenced Craven to 65 years in prison and probation for Life Thursday at the end of a hearing that included members of the victim’s family speaking about their loss.

“Savien, I’ve waited over 2 years for this moment,” Jacob Revis’ mother, Crystal Revis, during sentencing. “I have spent many nights lying in bed awake thinking of this day and what I’m going to say to you. I have not been able to function normally for a long time. You stole something so precious to me
and I will never get that back.”

At trial, Prosecutor Peter Overstreet called 16 witnesses proving that Craven chased down and stabbed the victim to death after a small amount of marijuana was stolen from him during a drug deal at a Lynn Haven park.

Testimony showed a scuffle broke out during the robbery attempt and one juvenile, who survived, was stabbed multiple times by the defendant in the restroom. Revis ran away and made it about 110 yards with Craven chasing him before tripping and falling in a ditch, where the defendant fatally stabbed him. Crystal Revis said the defendant showed no remorse and deserved the maximum sentence. “Your demeanor was cold and heartless during the trial and even then, you continued to lie,” she said. “I feel in my heart you do not feel any remorse for murdering my son.”

She also said while she will never forget what the defendant did to her son, she did forgive him. “The pain of losing a child is almost unbearable and you dang near killed me,” she said. “You didn’t though because I know that Jacob may not still be with me physically, he is still with me in spirit. And his spirit will live on in us and through us.”

Basford thanked the family for its strength, as well as the witnesses who testified at trial and the Lynn Haven Police Department for its investigation of the death.

For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.