A person who was researching the 2010 death of Michelle O’Connell has been found dead in World Golf Village, and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office now confirms the victim’s juvenile son is the one who made the discovery.
PCSO says the victim in this case identifies with both a male name and female name, so they are withholding identification until they can confirm the proper ID. The shooting death is considered suspicious, although PCSO is not able to say why at this point, including how many shots were fired. Despite that, PCSO Director of Law Enforcement Steve Rose says there is no reason for people in the complex where the victim lived to be concerned.
“Because of the nature of the investigation, I cannot divulge why we believe that, but we are confident that there is no threat to the community,” he says.
WOKV first told you Tuesday afternoon about the fatal shooting investigation off Pacetti and Registry. The St. Johns County Sheriff's office called in the Putnam County Sheriff's Office to handle the investigation, because of the history of the O'Connell case, which this victim in this shooting was personally investigating.
O’Connell was dating a St. Johns County deputy at the time of her death in 2010. His service weapon was used in what has officially been ruled her suicide, although O’Connell’s family believes her boyfriend was responsible for her death. Through multiple investigations that were convened in the aftermath of this death, there were problems uncovered in both the SJSO and FDLE investigations of the case. Nonetheless, there was never enough evidence put forward to bring charges against the boyfriend.
Rose says they know this victim had made records requests in connection to the O’Connell case, but he’s unsure why and if the victim has had any contact with the O’Connell family.
Rose says SJSO asked PCSO to investigate because they are in the same Judicial Circuit. He says PCSO asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for assistance, but they declined, so the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has been helping process the crime scene. Rose says SJSO has no involvement in the ongoing investigation.
FDLE says they believe it was appropriate to defer to another agency, to ensure there was no question of impartiality in the death investigation. FDLE’s lab system will give forensic assistance, according to the agency.