September 2, 2010: Fourteenth Anniversary of murder of Michelle O'Connell -- Justice for Michelle O'Connell! Justice for Eli Washtock!

On September 2, 2010, Sheriff's Deputy JEREMY BANKS shot Ms. Michelle O'Connell wiht his service weapon. Two shots. Before the sun had risen, it was called a "suicide" by controversial St. Johns County Sheriff DAVID BERNARD SHOAR, who legally changed his name from "HOAR" in 1994. In 2024, SHOAR ran for State Senate and was roundly defeated in a closed Republican Primary. 

September 2, 2024: Fourteenth Anniversary of murder of Michelle O'Connell -- Justice for Michelle O'Connell!  Justice for Eli Washtock!  

Wake up, St. Johns County.  Homicide suspect JEREMY BANKS is still a St. Johns County Sheriff's Deputy, never having been taken before a grand jury to answer for homicide charges in the September 2, 2010 murder of his girlfriend, Michelle O'Connell, with his service weapon, in his home.   Neighbors recalled that there was an argument, a scream and a shot, then an argument, a scream and another shot. "Suicide," the Sheriff's office proclaimed, before the sun had even risen the next day. A coverup has ensued, orchestrated by Sheriff DAVID SHOAR. Justice for Michelle O'Conell. Justice for Eli Washtock. Now.

1. It has been 4748 days.
2. There is no statute of limitations for homicide.
3. Following in the footsteps of Anne Schindler from Folio Weekly, The New York Times reported the Michelle O'Connell homicide coverup story in 2013 and 2017, PBS Frontline, NBC News Dateline, ABC News 20/20, Dr. Phil, the Guardian and other investigators confirmed it.  
4. They did the work that the St. Augustine Record did not do. The Record once again proved itself a lapdog, not a watchog, in the days it was owned by Morris Communications, before monopolistic GANNETT bought the property. 
5. An independent autopsy confirmed Michelle O'Connell's jaw was broken, something that was missed by the 23rd District Medical Examiner's office.  Sheriff SHOAR issued a middle of the night public statement, freighted with animus, questioning the need for another autopsy, angrily accusing the family of "molesting" her body. Meanwhile, McLEOD and the Sheriff have sent me hate e-mails, with McLEOD comparing me to a "toothless dog."
6. Special prosecutor Bradley King was not appointed to the Supreme Court, the Florida Judicial Nominating Commission having questioned him about his coverup, with King coldly turning to a tab in a notebook and reading smarmy lines to Chairman Jason Unger.
7. Former Assistant County Administrator JERRY THOMAS CAMERON was rejected by Republicans, by a seven-vote margin, for a County Commission seat in 2016.  He was defeated by Paul Waldron.
8. Two malfeasant autopsy physicians, Dr. PREDRAG BULIC, M.D. and Dr. JAMES HOBAN, M.D. were censured by the Florida Board of Medical Examiners.
9. Reputable forensic experts rebutted BULIC's cockamamie theory -- explained to three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Walt Bogdanich in his PBS Frontline interview -- suggesting that Ms. O'Connell committed suicide, based on a crackpot theory that a gun recoiled backwards and caused the injury to her eyelid.
10. The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners allowed the County Attorney to defend the two malfeasant autopsy physicians, even though the charges were personal to the individuals, like Bar complaints.
11. Complicit County Attorney PATRICK FRANCIS McCORMACK has resigned, but was replaced by another incompetent lawyer, former Assistant County Attorney 2011-2016, DAVID MICHAEL MIGUT.
12. DAVID MIGUT was copied on numerous e-mails involving my Open Records requests  attempting to uncover the truth about the coverup of 4700 Sherlock Place water use records from the County's Johnson Controls, Inc. smart water meter system. 
13. We're all fourteen years older today,
14. Our new Sheriff is Robert Hardwick, former Chief Investigator for State's Attorney Ralph Joseph Larizza.  
15. Hardwick and his deputy both believed Jeremy Banks committed homicide. Hardwick wanted an autopsy, but was foiled when he went to the FBI Training Academy earlier than expected, and Larizza belatedly recused himself. Hardwick said in a deposition, "we're all tainted."
16. Courageous FDLE Special Agent Rusty Ray Rodgers believed Banks committed homicide.  He did his job, but too well for local burgher DAVID SHOAR.
17. In retaliation, Sheriff DAVID SHOAR procured a harassing lawsuit, filed by louche lawyer ROBERT LESTER "MACK" McLEOD II.  The suit was dismissed, after being held over Special Agent Rodgers' head for five years.
18. Two respected jurists -- County Court Judge Charles Tinlin and U.S. District Court Judge Brian J. Davis, both found that there was probable cause that Deputy JEREMY BANKS murdered Michelle O'Connell.  
19. Heroic County Court Judge Charles Tinlin signed the search warrants, finding probable cause that BANKS murdered Michelle.
20. Judge Tinlin was later questioned by BANKS' lawyers, who tried to get him to say that Rodgers suggested Sheriff DAVID SHOAR had obstructed justice.  Judge Tinlin replied that he -- Judge TInlin -- was the one who raised the issue of obstruction of justice, not Agent Rodgers. 
21. Defective detectives remain on the job, and UnderSheriff JOEL BOLANTE has been made head of the Public Administration program at Flagler College, after avoiding a trial on Title IX retaliation charges over alleged sexual harassment
22. MATTEW CLINE has been demoted, and is no longer UnderSheriff, remaining as Sheriff's General Counsel. 
23. Eli Washtock, a brilliant man who was investigating Michelle's murder was himself murdered, but unethical satrap Sheriff SHOAR offshore the case to neighboring Putnam County, without an order from the Governor or any court.  Eli is buried in San Lorenzo Catholic Cemetery, a few years from Michelle. 
24. If hindsight is 20/20, we should find it all the more unreasonable that a corrupt political machine remains in power.
25. Is Governor RONALD DION DeSANTIS, culpable for having ignored requests to remove Sheriff SHOAR pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of our Florida Constitution?  He removed to State's Attorneys for being liberal, but refused to answer inquiries about SHOAR, another Republican,. 
26. This case must be heard by federal and state grand juries.  There can be no other just outcome. 
27. Justice for Michelle O'Connell. Say her name.
28. Justice for Eli Washtock. Say his name.
29. Never give up. 
30. It is up to us.
31. "Let justice be done though the heavens fall." (Fiat justitia rust caelum.)