BY DEVAN STUART LESLEY •@DEVANSLESLEY
POSTED ON DECEMBER 28, 2016 AT 9:00AM EST
Michelle O'Connell
SOURCE: FACEBOOK
Police say a St. Augustine, Florida, woman killed herself with her boyfriend’s gun six years ago — but her relatives say they have proof she was murdered. Subscribe to PEOPLE now or pick up this week’s issue, on newsstands Friday, for more on this case.
For six years, Michelle O’Connell’s family has sought what they say is their only chance at justice in her mysterious death.
Authorities say the once-vivacious young mother fatally shot herself on Sept. 2, 2010, but her relatives disagree. Instead, they allege, she was killed by her boyfriend, Jeremy Banks, a local sheriff’s deputy — which he denies and for which investigators say there is no probable cause.
Now O’Connell’s family is pushing a last-ditch effort for a state inquest into her death, following a second autopsy of her remains.
“Our family is not going to be quiet,” O’Connell’s mother, Patty O’Connell, tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.
It was Banks who, at 11:20 p.m. that September day, called 911 from the St. Augustine, Florida, home he shared with Michelle. He told the operator, “My girlfriend — I think she just shot herself.”
Responders found Michelle, 24, lying on a bedroom floor with a gunshot wound to the back of her throat. Banks’ service weapon was at her side.
Two days after Michelle died, St. Johns County Medical Examiner Dr. Frederick Hobin ruled her manner of death a suicide, though he later reclassified it as a homicide. A special prosecutor’s investigator found no evidence of homicide, however, and the case was closed in March 2012 as a suicide.
Then, earlier this year, Orlando pathologist Dr. William Anderson was asked by Michelle’s family to perform a post-exhumation autopsy on her body — and he found she had a broken lower jaw bone never mentioned in Hobin’s reports.
“The most reasonable explanation is that a hit in the jaw with a fist created the mandible fracture,” Anderson tells PEOPLE.
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Michelle’s relatives say she had no history of depression and would never have left her young daughter, Alexis. Michelle’s friends say she was planning to leave Banks before she died, though his attorney points to the same conclusion drawn by “three separate state attorneys”: Michelle killed herself.
Authorities also stand firm in that finding. “The information presented is nothing new and all was reviewed during the initial autopsy,” St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar said in a statement, dismissing the continuing controversy as “a few family members who will go to any lengths to maintain their moment in the spotlight.”
However unlikely, Michelle’s family wants the case reopened and a grand jury convened.
“This is not going to go away,” Patty O’Connell says.
Comments
James Haberberger
Sounds like a need for street justice if the legal system fails to reopen this case... sounds too sketchy and should warrant a federal investigation.
Like · Reply · 10 · Dec 28, 2016 10:43am
Laurabeth Lanoue
“a few family members who will go to any lengths to maintain their moment in the spotlight.”
Really? A Sheriff said that about the tragic death of a young woman? How crass and unprofessional! Open the case back up!
Like · Reply · 17 · Dec 28, 2016 12:34pm
Justice for Michelle O'Connell
The Sheriff of St Augustine Florida (David Shoar) accused the family of "molesting her (Michelles) body" because the family had an exhumation performed.
Like · Reply · 4 · Dec 28, 2016 1:21pm
Laurabeth Lanoue
And he still has a job...? Absolutely intolerable.
Like · Reply · 4 · Dec 28, 2016 3:00pm
Valerie Pedroza
Let's reflect on the case of still missing Stacey Peterson wife of Retired Police Sergeant Drew Peterson. His first wife Kathleen Savio was exhumed and after second autopsy they found that he murdered her.
Like · Reply · 2 · Dec 28, 2016 4:23pm
Nancy Dee
I smell a coverup!
Like · Reply · 3 · Dec 28, 2016 1:51pm
Bob Johnson · In "Fishy Lies" Beer in one hand fishing rod on the other, What a life !!! at Retired
You smell exactly right !!!!!!
Like · Reply · 2 · Dec 28, 2016 2:13pm
Barb Wheeler · Saint Augustine, Florida
This MURDERER lives on my street. 295 Lakeshore Drive, 32095. I am sick of paying a salary to a known murderer. I know he's benn protected by Sheriff David $Hoar because he is a Ponce/Meade descendent. Michelle O'Connell's family deserves JUSTICE.
I will continue to watch his rented house, owned by Stacey Miller of BugAway.
I will hassle him every chance I have. If I have a opportunity to take him "out", I will.
Like · Reply · 2 · Dec 28, 2016 3:00pm
Bronwen Seidlitz · San Bernardino Valley College
1) Women do not typically kill themselves with guns, because it is too messy. 2) People do not shoot themselves in the neck. They go in the mouth or temple. 3) Having a child would deter suicide in most cases. 4) A sheriff's deputy would know how to stage the scene. 5) If she was about the leave him, that is motive in many murders.
The family should contact the FBI immediately. The local police can not and should not be investigating one of their own.
Like · Reply · 15 · Dec 28, 2016 3:25pm
Julian Alexander Terris
"Then, earlier this year, Orlando pathologist Dr. William Anderson was asked by Michelle’s family to perform a post-exhumation autopsy on her body — and he found she had a broken lower jaw bone never mentioned in Hobin’s reports.
“The most reasonable explanation is that a hit in the jaw with a fist created the mandible fracture,” Anderson tells PEOPLE." -That fact alone should be enough to warrent a Federal investigation.
Like · Reply · 5 · Dec 28, 2016 3:34pm
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