The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death on Tuesday morning (July 28) of 22-year-old Palm Coast resident Jo Ann Elizabeth Heady, who was found unresponsive in a room at the Econolodge off Old Kings Road.
“It appears to be an overdose but the investigation is still active,” a sheriff’s spokesperson said.
A black and tan pitbull mix named Roxie that belonged to Heady was in the hotel room.
The sheriff’s 911 center had received a report that Heady was not been breathing and had used heroin the night before. She had not been alone. Two women, 20 and 22 years old–one from Palm Coast, one from St. Augustine–had been with her some of the time, according to a sheriff’s incident report. One of them had been with her for the previous several days, and had spent the night with her the previous night at the Days Inn.
Heady and one of the other women arrived at the Econolodge the night of July 27 in Heady’s Toyota. Heady had rented the room that night. A short time later, the third woman showed up. Heady had invited the second woman through her social media account. Her companions did not know each other. (Their names are redacted from the incident report as the criminal investigation is ongoing.)
One of the women told deputies that she took a nap, and when she woke up at around 11 p.m., she saw Heady ingesting heroin near the bathroom sink. That started an argument, which turned physical. The woman who described the incident to deputies said she then again went to sleep, and when she woke up later,m she saw two women (yet another unknown woman had showed up) lifting Heady off the bed and performing CPR on her.
When deputies spoke with the other woman who’d been present overnight, she told them that several people had been in the room, including a man and a woman who’d visited around 11 p.m., at Heady’s invitation. The woman said she went to bed around 2 a.m., when Heady was still alive. When she woke up around 8, she noticed Heady’s discolored face and sought help from the visitors of the night before, who were staying in a different room.
Heady’s death was one of several incidents over the weekend and since involving overdoses, though in every other case deputies and paramedics revived the individuals with narcan.
Land of no turn signals says says
I have a friend that used to work in one of those motels very common occurrence .Cops called all the time drug use.
Charlie F Ericksen says
Dah… Just what did the front desk employee think was happening, when numerous , characters like this went into the room..?? ( probably was and got a part of the action ) …This place should be shut down for harboring drug activities ,, Lock it up..
Lance Carroll says
Terrible epidemic taking many lives.
CB from PC says
If this is something which is a “very common occurrence” with “cops called all the time”, then revoke the owner’s business license to operate.
It is called public nuisance, and maintaining a premise where illegal activity occurs.
Easy enough for FCSO to run a report of calls to the address.
The BS which goes on here is just ridiculous.
Land of no turn signals says says
So it’s the Econolodge’s fault?
Tammy says
Condolences to family and friends. May your troubled soul find peace. RIP.
Concerned Citizen says
@ Charlie F Ericksen
It is sad indeed that a young life was lost to a vicious habit.
I had to stay there for a week this past month while in between leases. And it is a drug infested hotel. People openly deal in the parking lot. And come in and out of rooms openly using. The managers know and don’t do anything. I contacted the SO a couple of times and there was quite an attitude of disinterest.
As a resident of this community and a retired public safety person and current emergency services volunteer this is dissapointing and unaaceptable. This place is ading and abbetting and the county does not seem to care. Now a young life has been lost due to the hotel allowing this activity.
Among the illegal drug use and selling the hotel charges “non-refundable” weekly rates. I was just told recently this was illegal and went back to successfully get a refund after having to leave early for safety reasons.
It occurs to me that this hotel should have a busniess license thru the city/county/state. If this is so then they can be held accountable. Since you as a Commisioner expressed displeasure I’m asking as a constiuent that something be done. Before another life is needlessly cut short.
Please do more than voice your displeasure on FL. Step up and protect the citizens of this county.
White Bronco says
Yup, so many lives lost. Guess that’s why crime rates are lower lately.. everyone’s dead. Too bad the police can’t make an appearance until AFTER the fact. Funny, considering everyone kinda knows what’s up over there … Sad. Those poor Lost souls are in such trouble, and there’s nobody around to fix them before it’s too late.
Concerned Citizen says
@ Land of no turn signals says says
To a certain extent yes.
If a busniess allows criminal activity they are aiding and abetting. And according to The State Attorney’s Office action can be taken. They are licensed and are responsible for running a safe and clean environment. This place litterally allows drug deals to go down in the parking lot. And for open use on the property.
What should happen is Mr.Ericksen and others declare it a public nuisance. And then request that the SObasically have cars run thru several times a day. It’s easy enough done. Lean on the busniess and put pressure on the owner to clean it up.
If that doesn’t work find a reason to pull that busniess license and shut it down
Addicts Mother says
The State and Flagler Co do not care about helping drug addicts. Most of the organizations that used to help have lost funding.
Thanks Governor! I will NOT be voting for you.
These people need help! They hate their addiction as much as their family hates it.
Lance Carroll says
One can lead a horse to water….evidently drug addicts and police fit that saying as well. It’s a shame on all accounts…an epidemic on all accounts…thirsty drug addicts and thirsty police all operating around the same pond..
CB from PC says
Of course they hate it.
My dead nephew hated it, but not enough to quit using after multiple rehab stints.
The “help” begins with the addict. Most can’t quit for good.
Todd says
I was friends with her this is very sad is this still under investigation has there been any updates on anything
Jn says
Still going on at those motels
Megan says
Jojo was my best friend. She had her demons ( she quit many times, and moved to Florida to get away from it )but certainly didn’t deserve to die in a motel with no one who cared enough about her to call 911. I’m so mad at the girl who saw she was having issues and just “kept napping” , sure could of saved her life. It’s been 6 months and I still miss her everyday.
Todd says
I knew jojo as well and the article broke my heart it’s because of negligence that shes dead i feel horrible i miss her every day to
Jm says
I guess no one looks to see if the case is closed!!
Jimbo99 says
The flipside to this is the junkie is usually a dealer of sorts themselves. They buy thier fix, cut it and then try to sell that off as a means of earning a living as an addict themselves. Not saying this actually was the case here, but it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility. any drug abuse, whether it’s alcohol to the hardest of drugs like Fetanyl. Palm Coast has more than it’s share of drug houses that get shut down, who knows how many others still operate undiscovered. Those folks deal in their inventories and it’s like a pyramid scheme. And whether this one prostituted herself as part of her self employed business is anyone’s guess too, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility. And I’m not saying that even happened. But I’m sure police departments nationwide, even FCSO has seen enough of this, that it’s a matter of actually just catching them in the act. As humans there are entire illegal & covert industries that do this. I wouldn’t be shocked to read that someone may get caught later and snitch to it for a reduced plea bargain for their specific situation.
Jimbo99 says
Econolodge or any hotel/motel for that matter, rents a room for hourly, daily weekly or monthly rate(s). When one signs off on the rental lease agreement they sign off that the premises will not be used for illegal activity. Same holds for any apartment or other dwelling. So anyone that paid for lodging knows what is legal & illegal. Econolodge provides some level of security that is short of being deputized by a law enforcement agency. Nobody wants drug addicts & dealers endangering the lives of law abiding guests. This falls on the individual here, let’s not make that everyone else’s duty & obligation to ensure that some folks aren’t victimizing others. It’s bad enough someone would have to call the front desk or report it to 911/FCSO. Effectively a guest becomes part of the law enforcement process and bears risks that are simply uncompensated because another individual isn’t playing by the same rules that everyone else has to play the game of life by.
Megan says
I look everyday to see if anything has changed.
I went to her funeral here in NY.
I hope the woman who let her die while she “napped” constantly gets haunted knowing she killed my friend.
Jm says
The case is closed. If anyone read her autopsy they would know there wasn’t any herion involved.
The dealer died same way he caused her death