BUNNELL, Fla. — A woman was stabbed to death by her husband, in Bunnell Friday morning, the Bunnell Police Department said in a news release.
Her husband, Jermaine Williams, is in custody.
At 8:14 a.m., the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a resident reporting a stabbing of their relative on South Pine Street. The suspect, 52-year-old Jermaine Williams, was taken into custody, police said.
Authorities found the victim in the driveway of a home in critical condition and the suspect nearby, police said. She was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead.
Williams was lying on the ground and had blood on his pants and other clothing, police said.
Law enforcement cited several witnesses hearing "screaming" or seeing the stabbing in the middle of the street. A witness said he observed another man pointing a gun at the suspect, who was holding the knife he used against the victim, the release said.
Williams told deputies of a dispute had Friday morning over their living situation that "... pushed him over the edge and made him feel like he had nothing else to live for," the release said.
The agency said Williams was on probation for charges from a 2022 incident of domestic violence involving the victim. He was charged with one count of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and tampering with a witness from that case. Williams’ probation allowed him only to have contact with the victim in writing.
In the report for the 2022 incident, in which police said Williams assaulted his wife in front of their children, the victim said Jermaine Williams had been beating her "for 30 over years, but she has been afraid to report violence because she was in fear he would kill her," the report stated.
Police said an injunction for protection was entered by the court following the 2022 incident and arrest, but it was dismissed.
Williams was charged Friday with first-degree premeditated murder and one count of violation of probation. Williams was denied bond.
If you are in an unsafe situation and need help in Duval County, you can call the Hubbard House 24/7 hotline. That number is 904-354-3114. For Flagler County, check here for resources.
The Florida Domestic Violence hotline is 1-800-500-1119, or you can visit myFLfamilies.com.
In Georgia, the number to call is 1-800-344-2836, or you can visit gcadv.org.
