Even as Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly was holding a news conference Monday evening about what he was now calling the murder of a 44-year-old woman on Point Pleasant Drive in Palm Coast, his deputies were on their way to another death investigation at 21 Fort Caroline Lane, that one termed “unattended.”
Flagler County’s 911 center had received a call about a woman being found dead in her closet.
Jessica Coubrough, 55, had been arrested at that address, along with three other people, in November. She was released from jail on Jan. 9, on her own recognizance, with a pre-trial set for March 7. The condition for her release: no use of drugs or alcohol.
Tuesday evening, she was found dead. It appeared she had been dead “for a period of time,” according to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies and detectives, along with a crime-scene unit from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, worked through the night and into today, mirroring the process of the death investigation on Point Pleasant.
That suggests that after two months in jail, where she could not have accessed drugs, Coubrough may have overdosed soon after her release. Becky Quintieri, the sheriff’s jail director, last week had spoken of exactly that sort of risk affecting jail inmates: “One of the other things that happens with people who are in jail,” Quintieri told the Public Safety Coordinating Council on Jan. 10 (coincidentally, the day after Coubrough was released), “is that they build a tolerance before they come in, so [there is] an increased risk of death when they leave because they go back to using the dose that they were using prior to coming to jail. That of course will trigger an overdose and even death.”
A sheriff’s office spokesperson specified this afternoon, regarding Coubrough: “The medical examiner has determined that there are no signs of trauma to the body that would be associated with foul play. There will be no final cause of death until the medical examiner receives further lab reports.”
Brown, a transient, was released the same day that Coubrough was. Walsh had been released on Dec. 26. Williams is still in jail. The trigger for the arrests was a stolen-vehicle report. Several firearms and ammunition were found in the house, along with drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine in Coubrough’s bedroom and other drugs elsewhere in the house, which she’s owned since 2008, and where some of the men were staying.
Coubrough had had several run-ins with law enforcement over the years, and two years ago had been the victim of a domestic assault from her husband, Alexander. Soon after her incarceration she was the subject of a civil financial suit seeking the recovery of between $5,000 and $15,000, and her house on Fort Caroline went into foreclosure: the house is scheduled for a foreclosure sale on Feb. 16.
When deputies arrived at the house Monday evening, they detected a smell of decomposition even as they stood outside. They found Coubrough in the master bedroom closet, lying in a pile of clothing. She was the only occupant of the house at the time. Her son, the next of kin, was notified at the county jail, where he’s been held since October on drug charges.
woodchuck says
It’s sad,10 years ago this kind of news in Flagler county was rare.Now it’s almost a daily occurrence.The sheriff’s dept.is doing a great job but it seems that they are just shoveling shit against the tide.This city is in a downward spiral.
Richard says
It is very SAD what drugs will do to people along with alcohol, nicotine, RX pills, chocolate and any other product that is addictive. Other than chocolate, the end result never turns out good for the user. My waist line shows my addiction to chocolate. LOL
Born and Raised Here says
Should have never been released to go home, but should have been sent to a drug rehab facility.
The Geode says
This “city is in a downward spiral”? Have you been anywhere else? Do you watch the news? … you probably think it’s “fake”
jmb says
its called when a nation turns there back on GOD these are the results wake up sheeple where are the Pastors in this county wheres the outrage oh yeah there counting there donations for new wing on the pretty bldg they call a house of GOD what a joke read the teachings of JESUS matt mark luke john
Daphne says
Drug abuse is so out of control. It’s sad how many lives have been destroyed. Instead of sending billions in aid to other countries, shouldn’t we spend it on drug treatment (and veterans and homeless and a laundry list of other issues our citizens face right here in this country)?
Jenn says
Sad story and the son unfortunately followed his mother’s footsteps I truly hope the son can get help before it’s too late for him may she rest in peace and prayers go out to her son and family.
Anonymous says
I don’t think the city itself is in a downward spiral. It’s the people here that are in that downward spiral. The article states that she owned that property for about 10 years. She’s most likely been dealing with the drug addiction and the subsequent actions therein (longer than that), causing her run-ins with law enforcement. She is one of many people having the same issues due to addiction.
When people say the “world” is becoming a mess or the like, ultimately mean the PEOPLE in it. We the people make up neighborhoods, cities, states, countries etc. We are becoming less dependent on each other and social structure, and more inverted with online and so called social media interaction. People are “faking” happiness and turning to all sorts of drugs (both street and pharmaceutical) to get by. That’s why we hear so much talk about the drug epidemic nowadays, even though there were many communities dealing with it for decades.
This story among many, are very sad with no end in sight. I bet while this woman and her counterparts were locked up, no one gave any actual drug counseling or the like. The sherif speaks of the drug tolerance and an assumption of overdose, but leaves out any actual talk of help for these people or what can be done to better serve the community on this epidemic. Obviously, simply locking them up makes no difference as the Sherif himself stated they have been dealing with the house and the people in it for a long time.
It’s something how law enforcement can sit on the house to make a criminal case (as they already know what’s been going on), lock these folk up, then repeat. The only benefit is state money for each/person per day of incarceration paid out to the fancy new addition and renovated county jail. There should be emphasis on detox centers and counseling to give people a better chance with a stable life, but hey, it’s more cost effective and profitable to simply “lock’em up”!
JonQPublik says
Damn. So sad.
Trailer Bob says
Yup…the revolving door trick have never worked. Until judges begin giving out appropriate sentences, this will continue. If we are so concerned about peoples lives, then tough love must come back into fashion. Trust me…I know.
Jolene dehart says
The courts and the jail unfortunately have revolving doors. People who have felonies and are VOP are often RORd, and sentences are nil or virtually non existent. I’m often amazed at how many VOPs are out back on Probation.
bob says
amen jmb preach it we have a depraved society hating GOD and our lord jesus christ
repent folks jesus spoke more about hell then heaven read the bible
religion does not save. salvation is found in no other name there is no other
name given unto heaven which we must be saved. acts 4-12
ye must be born again john3-3 to enter heaven
The Truth says
Every sad bit of news is greeted with the same tired comments.
“This city is in a downward spiral.”
“This never happened where I am from.”
“Is there something in the water here?”
“Palm Coast isn’t what it used to be.”
News flash everyone — the world is changing. Drug abuse is far more common than we realize and now with social media and the internet we find out about it far quicker than we ever did before. Please take a breath and realize that these things (unfortunately) happen and will continue to happen every where. Where you are from, where you live now and where you will move in the future. You will also hear about it more than you ever did thanks to resources like FL and others.
mark101 says
the city in a downward spiral.. Well I’ve never seen brick , wood and concrete cause the human element to commit crimes or take drugs. The only thing on a downward spiral is the people that bring the drugs and crime into our town. You remove that , you fix the problem.
Barney Fife says
Population explosion will lead to a downward spiral unfortunately. I can remember in 1985 fishing all morning on Royal Palm Parkway and a car was a rarity. Now we’re all ruining over each other to be first in line to get a sub at Publix.
Jenn says
Open your eyes people it’s not just Palm Coast drugs are everywhere there are people dying everyday from a drug overdose being in the medical field I’ve seen it way too many times when you’re a drug addict you will go above and beyond to find your fix there are just too many people addicted to drugs and too many doctors quick to write prescriptions this is a serious problem everywhere.
ASF says
Jail was never meant to be a treatment program for drugs or mental illness. And an addict has to want to stop using to stop using. It’s a life or death choice. But it would be an easier choice if we had adequate treatment programs.
Chris A Pickett says
It is NOT just Palm Coast. Frankly, I have ZERO sympathy for someone who KNOWINGLY takes an addicting substance, and then dies. These drugs are NOT new and MOST everyone knows what they will do. There is an old say if you want to play, you have to PAY, in this case payment is life. If ANYONE thinks they can recreate with these substances and NOT pay the price YOU are simply a fool.
Anonymous says
Invite all the useless druggies to one location like an auditorium and give them all the drugs they want so we can decrease the surface population of wasted human race
sam says
People have to take responsibility for their own actions, the government is not a baby sitter. This woman knew the consequences and yet she did it!
Sick of the BS says
Wow I am totally amazed by a lot of you hypocritical jerks!! Don’t judge unless you are ready to be judged!! I agree we need more treatment and mental health facilities. Maybe if we had more options and more help out there we could reach some people! I don’t believe all drug addicts deserve to die, to me that is a racist remark. People can change if they are presented with options. Most drugs addicts are shunned. Hell, most felons are shunned. I believe if you do your time, it should be let go unless it is a violent crime or sexual.