Retired Sheriff Neil J. Perry, the veteran lawman credited with bringing the St. Johns County Sheriff s Office into the 21st century, died June 20, 2012.
Despite the efforts of the first responders, O Connell was pronounced dead around 11:48 that night.
Quickly ruled a suicide by authorities, family and friends have insisted O Connell, a young mother who had just accepted a new job, would not end her own life. In addition, questionable policework at the crime scene and during the subsequent investigation provided further proof to skeptics that something else was at play, and that Banks may have played more of a role in the incident than he led authorities to believe. Citizen P.I., A new series by Discovery+ that begins streaming Tuesday, takes another look at the O Connell case. It follows Leiva and Taylor, who make it their mission to uncover the truth about her death, as well as Wastock s, including whether they may have been connected.
News Break: Plea deal and sentencing hearing this afternoon for former Director of Finance
Raye Annette Brutnell will appear at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon to enter a felony plea and sentencing in the criminal matter of the State of Florida vs Raye Annette Brutnell that began three years ago, on November 20, 2018. The case will be heard before Circuit Court Judge R. Lee Smith in courtroom 328.
What began as 163 felony and misdemeanor charges after the initial embezzlement investigation of Brutnell, the Director of Finance for former Sheriff David Shoar, has been whittled down to 11 felony charges:
GRAND THEFT OVER $100,000 (812.014 2a1)
GRAND THEFT OVER $20,000 (812.014 1 & 2)