Fla. opens new investigation into 2010 death of young mother
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The governor of Florida has ordered an independent investigation into the death of Michelle O'Connell, a 24-year-old mother who was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in September 2010.
Governor Rick Scott issued an executive order Friday reopening the investigation into O'Connell's death, which was initially ruled a suicide, and appointed special prosecutor Jeff Ashton to oversee it.
O'Connell's body was discovered in her St. Augustine home on Sept. 2, 2010. The weapon used was her boyfriend's sheriff-issued handgun.
Over the years, O'Connell's family has been adamant that the young mother would not have taken her own life. Instead, they say they believe O'Connell's boyfriend, St. Johns County Deputy Jeremy Banks, pulled the trigger, according to CBS affiliate WJAX.
Early last month, O'Connell's family and their legal team hand-delivered a letter to the Florida State Attorney's Office asking for the investigation into her death to be reopened. They cited a new witness - bar owner Danny Harmon - who came forward with a story about questionable remarks made by Banks in the hours after O'Connell's death.
Harmon told WTEV that Banks came into his bar the day after O'Connell was found dead.
"He just said, 'The f-ing B deserved what she got.' And yeah, it struck me as weird," Harmon told the station.
Banks has not been charged in the case and is still working as a deputy in the St. Johns County Sheriff's Department.
Jennifer O'Connell, Michelle's sister, issued a statement Friday following word of the new investigation saying, "Today, we are heartened that this won't be the end of my sister's story."
"We will continue to fight for Michelle, as long as it takes," it continued.
Benjamin Crump, one of the O'Connell family's attorneys, said the new development "is a result of the O'Connell family's persistence and unwavering desire to discover what actually happened to Michelle on that September night."
Janet Johnson, co-counsel for the O'Connell family, told 48 Hours' Crimesider, "The family is cautiously optimistic. This is what we've been hoping for, but it's just a first step. Hopefully they'll start from scratch, with fresh eyes, and not just rely on the work the investigators did before."
