Just before 11 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 26) the Flagler County Sheriff were on the scene where a man’s body was discovered around 9:15 a.m. in a wooded area on the west side of Walmart on Cypress Point Parkway in Palm Coast.
Corey Nichols, 34, of 48 Cooper Lane in Palm Coast, was reported missing around 8:35 a.m. that morning.
Nichols had a history of inhaling chemicals–and of arrests. Last May 4 he was arrested and jailed at the Flagler County jail on one count of inhaling chemicals. He was jailed five months earlier on a similar charge, along with drug possession and leaving the scene of an accident. That month he was transferred to a rehab center. In 2009, he was jailed three times on minor drug charges.
Citing Nichols’s wife, Memory, the News-Journal reported that Nichols served 10 years in the U.S. Army, and that he was a sniper in Iraq, where he suffered a traumatic brain injury when his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb. He got out of the army in 2005 on full, permanent disability. His bike, which he rode often, was found at the scene.
The body was found in the small strip of woods and brush between the garden area of Walmart’s parking lot (to the right, as you go into the lot), and Cypress Point Blvd. That area was closed off for a while Saturday morning, but had opened again before noon.
Jeremy Rogers says
I think that it should be mentioned in this article that Corey was a decorated war veteran who had been gravely injured in Afghanistan, and after suffering a disabling brain injury was released from the Army. I was his friend and a former soldier who served proudly with him. This article is offensive in the way it paints Corey to be some mindless drug addict and criminal. I never served with a finer soldier, and I stand behind the fact that his sacrifice for this country should be recognized.
Barbara Bak says
This young man passed away, why as far as know, hasn’t been determined yet, we do know he was a decorated war vet, if this was suicide its heart breaking that this young man could not find the help he needed. I enjoy Flagler Live and read it almost daily, however I feel the paper has stepped way over the line in the way this young man’s life was portrayed, posting his fcso photo was totally unecessary and shows a complete lack of compassion for this persons’ family wether he was a drug user or not is not relevant in this situation. This paper should be more concerned with the fact that this person served his country and came back a changed person, rather than digging up dirt. My sympathies to his wife and family.
ignorancecosts says
That is so sad…If he had a disabling brain injury, why was he not being taken care of in a veterans hospital? What kind of treatment had he received. Our soldiers deserve excellent medical treatment when they return home.
Next…what kind of statue is that in the picture above? It looks like a bear with a dirty behind!
Flaglerlive says
ignorance cost, this may interest you: “Brainless: How the Pentagon Denies
Purple Hearts to Soldiers With Head Trauma.”
Megan Bouchard says
I do think it was horrible that the picture from his prior arrest was shown. This was completely unnecessary. I do however have to mention I emailed his service picture to the papers editor and within 10 minutes the picture had been changed. Its unfortunate that the printed version of this article will forever show him in an unfavorable light but at least this site now shows who he really was. Corey was a decorated war veteran and one of my very best friends. Anyone who knew him was lucky to have known him. His cause of death is still unknown. Please continue to pray for his wife and his 2 young children who will forever feel an absence in their lives from the loss of this incredible man. God bless.