Last Updated: 8:46 p.m.
Charles Kidd Jr., 85, was arrested on a second-degree murder charge this afternoon following the early morning shooting death of 36-year-old Mark Ruschmeier, who has lived with Kidd at Kidd’s Blare Drive home in Palm Coast’s Woodlands for at least a decade. Kidd was said to have been threatening to kill the younger man for some time.
Ruschmeier was living there with his mother, Brigitte Ruschmeier, 69, the only other witness in the shooting. Kidd called 911 at 5:49 this morning to report his deed.
“Our detectives determined that there had been a verbal argument described as mild, not vey loud, in the hallway in the house,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in an interview this evening, “and that Kidd Jr. pulled a gun and shot the victim, killing him. Detectives also determined that both Kidd Jr. and the victim had medical issues they were both dealing with.”
Brigitte Ruschmeier in her interview with detectives–summarized in Kidd’s arrest report–said that “there has been hostility between Mark and Charles for a couple of years for an unknown reason. She stated Charles has told her numerous times that he is going to kill Mark. Brigitte stated Charles has told her this in person as well as via text message.”
The argument this morning was about the air conditioner. The two men scuffled in the bathroom. It had gotten serious enough that Brigitte Ruschmeier was walking to the living rom to call 911. Before she got there, she heard the first of two gunshots, then heard her son make a sound indicating he was hurt. The second shot then sounded.
Immediately after that, Kidd walked into the hallway and said: “He got what he deserved.” He then went to his bedroom, from where he called 911. Ruschmeier rushed to her son. He was in a pool of blood in the bathroom, unresponsive. One of the gunshots had been to the head.
In his own interview with detectives, Kidd said he could not remember what was said or what took place with Mark. He said he recalled Mark “trying to choke him,” according to what he told detectives, though Mark in the moments before his death had yelled out to Kidd to get off him. Kidd does remembers shooting Mark. But he could not explain what had led to the altercation. “He does not remember what happened afterwards or where he may have secured the firearm after the incident,” his arrest report states. Kidd “believes he put it back into the lock box as he stated that is what he normally would have done.”
Kidd confirmed that Mark did not brandish any weapons, and that he, Kidd, alone has firearms.
Kidd retired around 1985 from the U.S. Coast Guard, where he was a commander, and had been in investigations.
Staly said earlier today that the incident was “concentrated to that residence, so the community doesn’t have to be concerned. It’s a tragic incident.” He added, “It’s still a very active investigation by our Major Case Unit and CSI,” a reference to the Crime Scene Investigation unit, which was still at the scene nearing noon today.
“We are securing the house until the medical examiner conducts their investigation and an autopsy to make sure that nothing changes in the investigation,” the sheriff said this evening.
Blare Drive between Blaine Drive and Black Alder Drive was closed to traffic for much of the morning.
There were three adults in the house at the time of the shooting, all known to each other, no children. Alcohol or drugs appear not to have played a role in the incident, the sheriff said.
The significant amount of forensic work inside the house includes blood-spatter analyses, which hints at the possible defense by the assailant that the shooting may have been in self-defense: blood spatters could have helped investigators decipher the veracity of claims one way or the other–or determine whether the second shot was defensive at all.
“This is not a whodunnit, but we don’t rush to make an arrest when everybody is identified and there is no threat to the community,” the sheriff had said this morning. He predicted a “pretty significant update within 24 to 48 hours,” and delivered the update in 12 hours. He said early indications are that the shooting was impulsive rather than calculated, “in other words it didn’t appear to me to be a pre-meditated homicide.” That explains the second degree murder charge, though the State Attorney may file a different charge.
It is still an extremely serious charge that can result in life imprisonment, although in Kidd’s case, any sentence will be a life sentence. He will be 87 on Dec. 12.
In domestic homicides, it’s not unusual that arrests are not made immediately. Investigators want to “make sure what we’re being told matches with the evidence,” the sheriff said. “We need to make sure all the evidence points in the direction we believe it does.”
The house at 20 Blare Drive has been cause for nine sheriff’s responses only since last October, not including today’s incident–four times on civil calls (which can mean anything from issuing a subpoena or intervening in a private dispute to ensure the parties’ safety–twice to assist another public agency, twice in response for verbal disturbances, and once because of an illegal parking issue.
The house, which is homesteaded, has been owned by Kidd at least since 2010, according to Flagler County Property Appraiser records, though he and his wife moved to Palm Coast in 1985. Kidd’s wife Diane died 10 years ago. They have three grown children.
“Our prayers go out to the family and friends of the victim,” Staly was quoted as saying in a release issued after the shooting. “Our detectives are working hard to determine what happened leading up to this incident.” In an interview, the sheriff stressed that numerous resources are available in the community to address or hedge off domestic issues before they become violent. “Seek help before it boils over and somebody is seriously injured or dies,” he said, noting a significant increase in domestic violence incidents, arrests and cases of stalking again this year, after a decline.
As for what happens next to Kidd, at least at the jail, that will depend on his medical evaluation. “Everyone arrested and booked in goes through a medical screening,” Staly said. Depending on the screening, decisions will be made if he has to be held on the medical side of the jail, which has three beds, or if he would be held in solitary with a 24-hour watch, or placed in a maximum security cell base don his charge, “but all of that will be decided after he is assessed.”
Asked whether there had been signs that might have prevented the shooting, with Kidd’s medical issues, the sheriff said: “I’m not sure it could have been prevented with the information we know today. Law enforcement has the Baker Act capability. If we go to a call and someone qualifies for an RPO based on their actions that were observed by a deputy, information can be submitted to the Sheriff’s Office’s general counsel, who reviews it and sees” if it qualifies for what’s called a Risk Protection Order. The attorney then makes the case before a judge, who then rules on whether firearms may be confiscated from that household, for the individual’s protection. Several RPO’s are typically in process at any given time through the agency.
“The other option that can be done is for the family or people that know an individual, if they feel they are unstable or [have] a medical condition that makes it where they shouldn’t have a firearm,” the sheriff said. “They can petition the court also. So there are ways for a family to handle if in fact that is the situation, because law enforcement is limited to what they see, and they’re not living with people and interacting 24/7 like friends and relatives are. That’s why they have the capability to petition the court. But they have to be willing to do tat, and what I’ve found in my law enforcement career is that family members are not willing to do that.”
In the Woodlands?!?! says
Yikes first a Stabbing drug deal last week now a homicide in this quiet shady neighborhood? There goes the neighborhood!
Stop pearl clutching says
Calm down babe, it’s one drug deal and a guy with dementia losing it. We’re not Oakland CA
Jill Shaler says
He was only losing it because of the crap that he had to deal with in his own house and abuse by this guy and his mother Bridget and I know because I’ve been his friend for 20 years and neighbor.. I know all the s*** that they’ve done to him
Brigitte Ruschmeier says
You don’t know anything what was going on in Charlie’s house. So keep your comments to yourself.
Sincerely sorry says
I’m so sorry for your loss. Mark was a nice guy. I worked with him for years & was fond of him.
Nancy N. says
Domestic incidents can happen anywhere, from the largest mansion to the smallest shack. It has nothing to do with the neighborhood.
Pogo says
@Good guys with guns
FCSO — it could’ve been worse, in ‘merica…
Who’s Your Neighbor? Calif. Judge Kills Wife Had 47 Guns, 26,000 Rounds Of Ammunition
Chris says
This town is as bad as new york!
Hmmm says
Yeah. Maybe a small upstate mountain town in new york!!!
Robert Joseph Fortier says
That is because ITT (the developers of Palm Coast, marketed Palm Coast to people in NY, NJ, and CT.
Gee…what could have gone wrong ?
Brian says
Wow! Sad to hear. Mr.Kidd was heavily involved in the Palm Coast real-estate in the early days. He was good with hunting down down payment assistance for first time buyers in the early 90’s. Recent times I’d see him in Publix and would seem to be in a stooper. Sad story for everyone. He used to be a nice, enthusiastic person.
Scott Olsen says
Agreed Brian I used to work with him. Not someone you think of as a murderer. This is a sad situation.
Jill Shaler says
He’s been in a stupor since the two of them moved into his house and started abusing him and it only got to his head because all that s*** that they did messed him up in the head. And he knew how to use a gun properly and how to lock it up properly!
Atwp says
The world we live in.
Amy says
Palm coast will look like Orlando by next year with all the housing and destruction going on. Im think i made mistake moving here.
Brian says
Yep, might have been a mistake, with all the housing and destruction
palmcoaster says
Should be no guns on a house were someone was diagnosed with dementia…
Jill Shaler says
He was never diagnosed with dementia.. just to let you know, only by that lady that was living there
Mona says
I agree. Not competent to stand the trail, but competent to have a gun?
JimboXYZ says
As for how it could’ve been avoided. When someone tlaks killing you, that’s the last dwelling you should be in, especially dementia man with guns. I think the system failed here, being over at the house as many times for all kinds of crazy moments. Just get away from that immediately, never look back or go back.
The Geode says
The system??? He could have easily become a man and lived on his own. Instead, it was easier to mooch off someone else than depend on yourself to make your life livable…
Unbelievable in America says
Oh well I guess in order to battle this uptick in violent crimes the Sheriff, will just have to give out some more speeding tickets.
Deborah Coffey says
Guns, guns, and more guns…in the hands of people who shouldn’t have them. This country needs a an overhaul.
Doug says
Y’all that complain about the crime are part of the problem. Before most of you relocated from whatever state you came from, this place was virtually crime free. We knew almost everyone but read the newspaper to see who got caught at what, and the crimes then, indeed, weren’t equivalent to what you read about today. It’s a damn shame what has happened to this county.
bill says
I agree I’m from New York 21 years ago. It was beautiful peaceful I’ll pay the speed limit. I love driving slow. Now that my kids are grown-up. This place is a mess. unFortunately, they live here with me and my wife.
Jolene says
Moved here 25?years ago. A huge difference between now and then. If I were to move today, Palm Cosst would not be a contender.
I live in the Woodlands too and the worse I seen up until last couple years was a neighbors slashed tire. Times have changed. So has this neighborhood and area.
David Schaefer says
This clown had no business caring or having any weapons let him rot in jail for the rest of his life.
Jane Gentile-Youd says
Why on earth were there guns in any home, where a person known to be suffering from dementia, lives with others ? In my opinion Mrs. Kidd is just as guilty, as an owner of the home, for allowing a gun in that house.
Beth says
Mrs. Kidd died over 10 years ago. He was NEVER diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s. He is a retired veteran, legally allowed to own his weapons.
Not Surprised says
It’ll only get worse. SCOTUS is hearing a case that will allow people who’ve been convicted of domestic abuse to own guns. There is something wrong with a society that sees consensual expressions of love as deviant, yet fetishizes violence like it’s their drug and the reason they wake up in the morning. This SCOTUS will no doubt allow those convicted of domestic abuse to own guns. Some states are even removing protections for victims.
Wake up women (and men), SCOTUS and Republican leaders don’t care if you die, guns and the Bible are the only things that have protections here. It’s ironic too, our founding fathers wanted religious freedom, not forcing people into one religion (many of today’s restrictive laws are Christian-based courtesy of Christian nationalist lawyers being churned out by Liberty U). Abortion laws, anti-LGBTQ laws, etc go against non-Christian denominations. So who is being discriminated against? Not white Christian men and not guns.
One other thing, if Samuel “bought and paid for” Alito, can use a Christian radical that thought women were witches, to justify his vote against women’s health care, perhaps someone should use the fact that when the constitution was written, all we had were muskets. Watch how FAST they say modern precedents allow for AR-15, yet modern precedents are not applicable to women, POC, LGBTQ, religious freedom, etc.
Republicans are laughing while they roll in blood money.
Mona says
Yeah, all the crap hides easily behind Christianity.