Two people have been arrested for the brutal killing of a local church deacon.
JSO says 53-year-old Andrew Stephens opened his Steele Court apartment to 25-year-old Keshia Love and her infant son several weeks before he was found dead in April. Police now believe Love and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Darrius Jones, are responsible for Stephens’ death.
Assistant Chief Chris Butler says Love and Jones intended to rob the victim, but also beat, stabbed and shot him in the head. He says the couple then took Stephens’ wallet and car and tried to buy baby supplies with his credit card but that didn’t go through. They used his cash and dropped the supplies off at an acquaintance, who was watching the couple’s child, before returning to Stephens’ apartment.
Once there, JSO says they set a fire.
“They did this in order to conceal the crime they had committed,” Butler says.
During the fire, Love broke her arm.
The couple then returned to their child, and Butler says the acquaintance noticed the injury and other problems with the suspects.
“She could tell something was up with them,” he says.
Information from that acquaintance is part of what helped police in their investigation.
JSO says the couple was actually arrested by Jacksonville Beach Police on unrelated charges. While being questioned, police say Love confessed to the crimes and implicated Jones.
In Jacksonville, Jones is now charged with murder, armed robbery, and arson. Love is charged with murder.
In Jacksonville Beach, Jones is charged with grand theft, dealing in stolen property, and burglary. Love is charged with giving false verification of ownership of pawned items, grand theft, dealing in stolen property and burglary.
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