• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Economic Development Council
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • Fourth Amendment
    • First Amendment
    • Privacy
    • Second Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Third Amendment
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
    • 14th Amendment
    • Civil Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Flagler Youth Orchestra
    • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
    • Palm Coast Arts Foundation
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2022
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

Man Found Dead and Bloodied Outside Drain Street House: Police Investigating Homicide

November 27, 2015 | FlaglerLive | 33 Comments

stubbs homicide bunnell
The crime scene off East Drain Street this afternoon. John Stubbs’s body, behind the orange bucket, had not yet been removed as investigators surveyed the scene and awaited the medical examiner.(© FlaglerLive)

Last Updated: 4:45 p.m.

John Robert Stubbs, a 46-year-old resident of 502 East Drain Street in Bunnell, was found dead on his doorstep this morning, soaked in blood. The Bunnell Police Department is conducting an investigation into “what appears to be a homicide,” City Manager Larry Williams said this morning. Stubbs was under a white sheet, next to the orange bucket he used detailing cars.

“The individual had blood on the front and rear of the t-shirt, more blood on the back of the t-shirt,” Williams said. “We’re waiting for FDLE crime scene to come evaluate and the medical examiner to determine the cause of death. It appears to be a homicide.”

By early afternoon, investigators at the scene were confirming that it was a homicide, with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at the scene–along with a half dozen units of the sheriff’s office, including detectives, and several units of the Bunnell Police Department.

john r stubbs murder
John R. Stubbs as a Marine. Click on the image for larger view. (Provided by the family)
And just before 5 p.m., Williams said Stubbs was killed from “apparent gunshot wounds to the upper torso, pending autopsy.” Police had no suspects or anyone in custody, only some reports of early morning sounds that resembled firecrackers.

Earlier in the day, around 1 p.m., the duplex on Drain Street had been taped off as investigators surveyed the scene. A group of some two dozen people had gathered just past the edge of the crime-scene tape on South Moore Street, and smaller numbers had gathered on East Drain, speaking in soft voices.

Stubbs was a felon with a long criminal history in Flagler County, dating back to 1989. He served four years in state prison on a cocaine conviction. Two years ago he was arrested on a cocaine possession charge after a drug deal that went bad on Railroad Street in Bunnell: he was dragged by a vehicle, after approaching the car’s driver–Corey Miller, who was booked on an aggravated assault charge that day. Miller had suddenly accelerated away from Stubbs.

He’s been found guilty of forgery, and in 2013, subsequent to that incident on Railroad Street, he was again guilty of cocaine possession and sentenced to a year in prison. He’d been released a few months ago. He was found dead this morning around 10 a.m. by an individual in the neighborhood.

“We’re waiting to get a search warrant to search the inside the house,” Williams said. “It is a house that had drug activity in the past. We’re not saying that the cause of this was drug activity, but the house had past activity. We’re processing the exterior of the house.”

“This was not the call I wanted to get this morning,” Pastor Sims Jones, a Palm Coast resident whose church is in Bunnell and who is deeply connected to the community in South Bunnell, said as he stood looking at the back porch of the house, off South Moore Street. “He gets out there, he hustles, but he’s not a danger to anybody,” he said of Stubbs. “He was getting ready to do my car. He does detailing. He does good detailing. Nobody had a problem with him.” (Friends of Stubbs, a Marine, provided the video of his fineral, left.)

By then of course, it was clear that somebody had had a problem with Stubbs. “That’s the strange thing about it, that’s what’s surprising to everybody,” Jones said.

Stubbs’s sister, Renee McKay, was nearby. “He was just a nice person, he didn’t dis-respect anybody. The only thing he was into was cleaning cars,” McKay said. “You’re not going to find anybody say anything bad about him. It’s hard to believe this.”

Shemeika Rollins lives in the house immediately to the north of the duplex where Stubbs lived, with a clear view onto the backyard of the duplex and the back door to Stubbs’s house, where the porch light was still burning. She was upset that she had walked by today and not realized that he was there. Her husband and her cousin found him and alerted authorities. “That’s my neighbor, my friend,” Rollins said of Stubbs, who called her “Baby Mama,” she said. “He’d just got done washing cars,” she said, certain that he’d just returned from a job with his orange bucket, and maybe had surprised someone in the house that wasn’t supposed to be there. She pointed at a back window, where the curtains had been half torn out and pushed out from within. “Somebody tried to get out of that window,” she said.

Bunnell’s police chief, Tom Foster, is on vacation today. Cpl. Matt Mortimer of the Bunnell Police Department was in charge of the scene. “We brought in an additional officer,” Williams said, as the department had been working with a minimal staff because of the Thanksgiving weekend. “We’re questioning [people in] the area, people are apprehensive in giving answers but they’re being cooperative,” he said.

The sheriff’s office is assisting. “We’re assisting them from a crime scene standpoint only of scene security,” Jim Troiano, the sheriff’s chief spokesman, said. “I know they’re going to be reaching out to other agencies for assistance.”

Flagler County registered one murder this year, on Sept. 23, when Anna Pehota, 75, shot her 77-year-old husband in their hammock trailer then called police and confessed.

“This is ridiculous,” Rollins said. “Little old Bunnell.”

east drain street murder investigation
The front of the duplex on East Drain Street today. (© FlaglerLive)
stubbs bunnell murder
Stubbs’s neighbor believes he had just returned from detailing cars, with the orange bucket he used, still containing liquid. (© FlaglerLive)
crime scene bunnell crowd
A small crowd had gathered near the crime scene. (© FlaglerLive)
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
You and your neighbors collectively read our articles about 25,000 times each day (that's not a typo) with up to 65,000 daily reads during emergencies like hurricanes. Flagler County residents rely on FlaglerLive for essential, bold and analytical journalism that cannot be found anywhere else. But we depend on your support. Please join our December fund drive! If you donate the cost of a scoop of ice cream, you will be helping us continue to provide comprehensive local news and honest, serious journalism for our community. If you can donate more or become a monthly donor, even better. Donations are tax deductible since FlaglerLive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donate by clicking anywhere in this box. Think of it as buying a scoop, in every sense of the term!  
All donors' identities are kept confidential and anonymous.
   

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Veteran says

    November 27, 2015 at 2:23 pm

    This what happens when you get involved with drugs.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    November 27, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    My condolences to friends and family. Nobody deserves this.

    Reply
  3. Oh please says

    November 27, 2015 at 4:22 pm

    This is what happens when the United States lets drugs into the country

    Reply
  4. Blue says

    November 27, 2015 at 4:40 pm

    It’s sad that this mans past has to be broadcasted instead of showing sympathy in the fact that his life has been taken from him. His past doesn’t take away the fact that he was a good person who worked hard. He may have had an addition problem, but why judge him? I pray for his family and his hopes he is at peace and that whatever happened to him comes to light.

    Reply
  5. just saying says

    November 27, 2015 at 5:34 pm

    Thank goodness the FCSO has two CSI personel, two CSI vans and a major case response vehicle. Oh well, at least with FDLE doing to the work instead, there won’t be the over head of five finger discount on vitamins or the mixing of evidence that lets a prison rerelease offender off without a sentence for latest crime.

    Reply
  6. tony says

    November 27, 2015 at 6:50 pm

    I sure hope the FCSO does the investigation. The only way the boys in blue will catch the killer is if he puts out a cigarette on the sidewalk, has a burned out tag light or comes into town with his high beam lights on. The Bunnell city manager could catch him before the BPD could !

    Reply
  7. Wow says

    November 27, 2015 at 6:53 pm

    Y’all should be ashamed. This does not sound drug related, and even if it was, shame on you, nobody deserves to die. Every life is precious and to say those things takes a cold hearted individual. Have some respect….

    Reply
  8. The truth says

    November 27, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    Like this https://flaglerlive.com/88065/daniel-ruddell-arrest/?

    Reply
  9. Samuel L. Bronkowitz says

    November 27, 2015 at 7:11 pm

    This is what happens when drugs aren’t legalized.

    Reply
  10. David S says

    November 27, 2015 at 7:59 pm

    Rip thank you for your service to our country.

    Reply
  11. Nancy N. says

    November 27, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    Oh yeah, everyone is so fast to jump on the “well drugs, what do you expect” bandwagon as a way to not have to care about this man’s sad fate.

    Twice as many people die every year in this country from alcohol as from drugs yet everyone freaks out about drugs while happily chugging away on their alcohol….why is that, anyway?

    Reply
  12. Concerned Citizen says

    November 27, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    EVERYTHING IS NOT ABOUT DRUG IN BUNNELL…

    Reply
  13. Concerned Citizen says

    November 27, 2015 at 8:30 pm

    My condolences goes out to the family of Mr. Robert Stubbs..Prayers for his mother for strength to stay strong in her time of bereavement.

    Reply
  14. joe says

    November 27, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    Veteran, that’s the kind of comment you leave when your involved with racism.

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    November 28, 2015 at 12:14 am

    The drugs are already here. Some of the worst problems in this town have to do with prescription drug abuse.

    Reply
  16. Geezer says

    November 28, 2015 at 9:01 am

    John R. Stubbs cut to to the head of the line – where we’ll all meet later.
    R.I.P Mister John.

    Your life was precious.

    Reply
  17. tim says

    November 28, 2015 at 10:05 am

    drugs or not the man did not deserve to be left for dead.

    Reply
  18. Just me says

    November 28, 2015 at 10:50 am

    IMO this shows the stupidity of the prohibition of drugs. just like when booze was banned it made for criminals to make big money and crime that came with it. make them legal like booze sell it in stores like liquor stores and we will see the crime drop from it like happened at the end of prohibition. Who does not want this to happen well the criminal drug dealers as they will loose their revenue and also the entire criminal justice system as it will also loose much of its revenue.

    Reply
  19. Geezer says

    November 28, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    “When the game is over, the king and the pawn go into the same box.”
    –Italian proverb

    Try to remember that every single day of your life.
    It will make you a better person – I promise.

    Reply
  20. niece says

    November 28, 2015 at 12:13 pm

    i will miss you every day in my life I’m glad ur in a safe place now love you i will never forget about you lv you look down in smile ill be waving lv u

    Reply
  21. sad says

    November 28, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    condolences to his family.

    Reply
  22. Tavarez Richardson says

    November 29, 2015 at 7:38 am

    Rest in peace Rob. And my sincere condolences yo the family. He was my neighbor. He didn’t bother anyone, and didn’t deserve to have his life taken. Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s never too late to change.

    Reply
  23. Anonymous says

    November 29, 2015 at 10:06 am

    stubbs was a stand up citizen…….very often he would stand up-leave his house and do something illegal

    Reply
  24. Pastor Sims Jones says

    November 29, 2015 at 11:10 am

    It’s a shame that when a Black person die that the first thing we do is look up his criminal record. We all have things in our past that we are not proud of. The key is to change and Mr. Stubbs was changing his life from doing the wrong thing to doing the right thing. He worked hard to make money the legal way. So why do we look for the worst and not the good in people. He was a vet and shouldn’t be looked at as a criminal. We should look more into who killed him. Let’s stop tearing down and lift up. He is a person and should be treated as a person. The world would be the better for it.

    Reply
    • FlaglerLive says

      November 29, 2015 at 4:05 pm

      Pastor Jones, Mr. Stubbs was the victim of a homicide and a known felon with a long record. Whether he was black, white, Bengali or Norwegian–and for that matter whether he had a record or not–we would have looked up his record regardless, and all records relevant to the incident. This homicide took place in South Bunnell, involving a black man. It says nothing about blacks in general. It says nothing about South Bunnell in particular. Those are merely facts incidental to the case. But they cannot be muted or euphemized to spare feelings. To suggest that the reporting is driven by the man’s skin color whitewashes the facts on several levels, among them the recurring attempt to use his race as a means of silencing his past–which from a reporting standpoint would be irresponsible–and the cheap-shot attempts at diverting from the reality of a brutality by pointing an accusing finger at the media. Sure it’s popular and it may make people feel a bit better. But it’s no less absurd, and we’re not about to either facilitate the finger-pointing in that regard or engage in it. You humanized Mr. Stubbs with the interview you granted us, as did his sister and his neighbor, which we appreciate. And you have always taken spoken the truth, often uncomfortable truths, in your role as a voice to the voiceless before local government bodies. We would appreciate it if you respected our role, which in many respect is not dissimilar from yours.

      Reply
  25. Outsider says

    November 29, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    Niece, sorry for the death of your uncle. While I don’t know him it seems like he was working hard to try to earn a living. I respect him for that, and send my condolences to all of his family and those who knew him.

    Reply
  26. Paster Jones says

    November 29, 2015 at 6:59 pm

    with all do respect to Flaglerlive, The media does not treat People of color the same as Non People of color. Think about this, if a member of your family was killed. would want the first thing you see in the media is about your family member criminal record and unflattering picture in the news without first hearing why they were killed. see that assume he was killed because he was involved in some kind of criminal action. that’s how it appears to the family and people who will read the article. not just you but media in general do not show people of color in the best light. Nothing personal but this is how the family and others see it. Have a good day and God Bless.

    Reply
  27. Anonymous says

    November 30, 2015 at 9:11 am

    there he goes pulling the race card…..

    pastor jones I am sure he wasn’t killed for being an upstanding citizen–or for standing outside walmart ringing a Christmas bell

    likely his involvement in criminal activity is what got him killed-don’t sugar coat any of this or his past actions–he is just another Michael brown in my eyes

    Reply
  28. man of color says

    November 30, 2015 at 10:32 am

    Pastor Jones, on behalf of Flaglerlive they give a “Bio” about criminal history or not when it comes to most stories or individuals they cover. You have to remember Pierre Tristam has been called on his own site mind you every foul name in the book as well as have individuals attempt to post untrue, clouded information about his name, where he is from and personal beliefs. What most good writers do is give you information surrounding the events or factors relating to the person covered in the story. And it is a fact Mr. Stubbs was known to police and system not in a good way. I think Flaglerlive is an allie to your grudge and I can almost promise if you saw the racist/bigoted comments Pierre has to edit or keep from seeing the light of day you would agree.

    Reply
  29. Ray Thorne says

    November 30, 2015 at 12:10 pm

    Pastor Jones,

    It’s ignorant to label your concern as a black issue and not just a personal issue. The story would read the same on anyone with a criminal history.

    Reply
  30. man of color says

    November 30, 2015 at 8:02 pm

    Anonymous, and Ray Thorne Pastor Jones does have a legit beef it just shouldn’t be with Flaglerlive. For you two “probably” caucasian individuals to tell a man like Pastor Jones something is ignorant or a race card is a joke. You two wouldn’t have lasted 30 seconds being black growing up in “BuckTussle” oh, you don’t know what that is? You two need to worry about your future president Donald Trumph looking to enslave any white person that isn’t as rich as him and then we’ll see race cards, and ignorance.

    Reply
  31. Geezer says

    December 1, 2015 at 6:24 pm

    So many compassionate remarks.
    So much empathy and respect for the dead,
    and their loved ones.

    Oops, wrong article.

    Reply
  32. alesha and arize says

    December 3, 2015 at 11:03 am

    thankyou uncle rip i am thinking of you everyday

    Reply
  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Recent Comments

  • Pierre Tristam on The Hung Jury Got It Right in the Monserrate Teron Trial
  • blerbfamilyfive on Why Will Furry Is Demolishing the Flagler Youth Orchestra
  • We believe the girl on The Hung Jury Got It Right in the Monserrate Teron Trial
  • DAVE on Flagler Pride Fest Is On Despite Hostile Climate, Drag Show Included, With a Few Cautionary Tucks
  • Blame Game on No, Flagler Beach Isn’t Asking for Money. It’s Asking for Cooperation from County and Cities.
  • Laurel on Behind the Divorce, a Bitter, Threat-Ridden Clash Between Waste Pro and Palm Coast Over Recycling Bins
  • Deborah Coffey on Wadsworth Elementary’s Paul Peacock Is Told He’s Done in Flagler Schools; New Principal To Be Named Later
  • Flatsflyer on Wadsworth Elementary’s Paul Peacock Is Told He’s Done in Flagler Schools; New Principal To Be Named Later
  • Greg on No, Flagler Beach Isn’t Asking for Money. It’s Asking for Cooperation from County and Cities.
  • Bailey’s Mom on Wadsworth Elementary’s Paul Peacock Is Told He’s Done in Flagler Schools; New Principal To Be Named Later
  • jake on Flagler Pride Fest Is On Despite Hostile Climate, Drag Show Included, With a Few Cautionary Tucks
  • Dennis Clark on No, Flagler Beach Isn’t Asking for Money. It’s Asking for Cooperation from County and Cities.
  • Bryan on “A Fitting Conclusion”: Family Speaks of Pilot Ray Miller’s Life of Adventure Before Crash
  • Ray W. on The Hung Jury Got It Right in the Monserrate Teron Trial
  • Ray W. on The Hung Jury Got It Right in the Monserrate Teron Trial
  • Dee on Wadsworth Elementary’s Paul Peacock Is Told He’s Done in Flagler Schools; New Principal To Be Named Later

Log in