Early the morning of Oct. 12, a man fired numerous bullets from a high-powered rifle into a stationary sedan at the Circle K on Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway. Deon O’Neal Jenkins, 26, of Palm Coast, was killed. The driver was wounded but survived. The sheriff’s office has not released his identity.
The murder at first perplexed sheriff’s detectives, who have devoted unusual resources to the investigation since. In early November, the Sheriff’s Office doubled the reward for tips to $10,000. But still no breaks on the only unsolved murder on Sheriff Rick Staly’s watch in three years, at least not breaks the public has been privy to. A half dozen other murders have led to arrests within hours or days, at most a few weeks.
There was no break Friday–no overt break, anyway–but detectives from the Major Case Unit and members of other units served a search warrant this morning at 49 Berkshire Lane in Palm Coast related to the investigation, a house occupied by renters. The information from that search remains minimal, but the raid and the wording of a sheriff’s release suggest detectives may be closing in on their target: material evidence collected from search warrants often serves to ensure that whatever charges are eventually leveled are solidly substantiated. In the age of cell phones, thumb drives and other electronic hand-prints, search warrants often target the sort of equipment that takes time to analyze, though detectives generally know what they’re looking for.
The wording of the release all but confirms it.
“During the course of the investigation, the Major Case Unit was able to identify multiple coconspirators who are believed to have played a role in the killing of Jenkins,” a sheriff’s release stated. “A connection between the occupants of this residence and the murder was discovered, which led to the execution of the search warrant. Multiple items of evidence were recovered and removed from the residence.” For the sheriff’s office to advertise that sort of certainty points to confidence in the trail, the sort of confidence that clearly seems not to be jeopardizing detectives’ ability to find their suspect, or suspects.
Two individuals who were at the house at the time the search warrant was served were handcuffed during the search, but not arrested. No children were home. “I am not able to release any details regarding the evidence seized,” a sheriff’s spokesperson said.
But even Sheriff Rick Staly, who doesn’t usually risk overt confidence without knowing he has the goods, appeared to have trouble containing himself about a break in the case, soon, assuming the case hasn’t actually moved beyond that point. Staly’s assessment hints that it may have: “Our Detectives have been on top of this case from day one,” Staly was quoted as saying in a release issued late this afternoon. “I’ll say this, the walls are closing in. If you have any information about this case, now is the time to come forward. Multiple persons of interest have been identified and it’s time for them to decide whether they want to be a witness or a defendant.”
The agency reiterated its offer of a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the killer and any accomplices. Anyone with information can call CrimeStoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477) and will remain completely anonymous.
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Steve Ward says
Play the game and lose your Freedom as prior known vanishes in the flash of a muzzle. May arrests be imminent.
Name (required) says
Dear criminals,
If you think you aren’t being watched 24/7 in this town, guess again. It’s 2020, they gots the tech, the cams, and the resources not necessarily to ”prevent”crime, but roll back the tape and prosecute crime that has occurred. That said, criminals, reassess your situation..there are multiple cameras at every intersection, on every artery of travel within a 20 mile radius. LEAVE HERE NOW. Your asinine behavior WILL put you in a very legitimate and well evidenced prosecution. They know the Times, places, vehicle tags and faces, the material evidence all collected. Filed. Permanently. Try to commit a crime and cross through Palm Coast, you’re going down for real… WHAMMY. PC is No longer a place to escape to, it’s a place you should run from. This Sherrif’s dept. DOES NOT Eff around. They got all the tricks to put you in with a quickness. you wanna murder somebody here?? Negative. I can almost consciously commend our local police state. I agree. GTFOH. Now. All of you. The Clock is ticking….. go.
JOE SCHMO says
There was no break Friday–no overt break, anyway–but detectives from the Major Case Unit and members of other units served a search warrant this morning at 49 Berkshire Lane in Palm Coast related to the investigation, a house occupied by renters. That sums it it right there.
Doug says
The population boom continues to attract the less desirable. Palm Coast is already looking like a large metropolitan city with the crime. We, as longtime residents of this county can only thank our current and past elected officials for selling out to the developers. Oh and let’s not forget our local tourism board who hired Eric Estrada to advertise Palm Coast to the arrogant people from the north.
India Biscoe says
Sick people to kill that guy. Hope they’re caught and locked up!
Thetruth says
The FCSO is awesome and I cannot thank them enough for keeping our streets safe. Sheriff Staly is the best and a great bunch of employees.
Mary Fusco says
Doug, I have lived in PC for over 20 years and I am from the North (NYC). I mind my own business, keep my property up, pick up my dog’s crap when I walk him and have never even spoken to a police officer since I have been here. I certainly do not consider myself arrogant. PC does seem to want to attract those that will be “problems” down the road. Back in the day, when this happened, people just moved and left cities and beautiful little towns to those who want to destroy. Today, people opt to live with guns, lights, cameras, alarms and increasingly bigger dogs because there is no where to go. It is the same everywhere. One thing that PC does not need any more of are gas stations with convenience stores or fast food places because they are just magnets for trouble. Don’t blame everything on Northerners because most of them that are here are well past the age to commit crimes. The younger people are another story. They also come from the North but a huge percentage of them are born and bred in FL. They just migrate from place to place. LOL.
hopefully getting close soon says
We still have one unsolved murder not uncovered. No one has been charged in that missing man in Daytona North. There was a segment on television about him. But still no chrges. Don’t get me wrong Rick Staly and FCSO has busted there butts to keep us safe. I’d just like to see this family have some closer.
Heywood Djablowme says
Your own little slice of paradise.l (Eric Estrada voice)