Fruit Cove man arrested for murder of wife

Historic City News has learned that, following the execution of several search warrants and review of DNA test results, detectives obtained an arrest warrant, late this afternoon, for Sean A. Bush in connection with the murder nearly three months ago of his 35 year-old wife, Nicole Elise Bush.

Shortly before 7:00 a.m. on the morning of May 31, deputies discovered the victim at a townhome in the 800 block of Southern Creek Drive in Fruit Cove. She suffered multiple gunshot wounds and other previously undisclosed trauma.

The victim was treated at the scene by St. Johns County Rescue personnel and then transported by air ambulance to Shands Hospital in Jacksonville — where she later died.

An autopsy was conducted at the District Four Medical Examiner’s Office in
Jacksonville. The cause of death was determined to be severe blood loss resulting from multiple injuries that included gunshots, blunt force and stab wounds. The manner of death was determined to be homicide.

Today, St. Johns County homicide detectives along with investigators with the State Attorney’s Office homicide investigation unit, assisted by the U.S. Marshal’s Office, arrested the victim’s estranged husband — 42 year-old Sean A. Bush who resides at 5142 Attleboro Street in Jacksonville, and charged him with first-degree murder.

St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar said today, “I am especially relieved to get the suspect of this brutal homicide off the streets and to finally give the family of Nicole Bush some closure to this horrific crime.”

Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Charles E. Mulligan told Historic City News that Bush will be booked into the Duval County Jail today since it is the jurisdiction where he was picked up. At a later date, Bush will be transferred for trial to St. Johns County; where the crime occurred.

Bush has been a Person of Interest in the investigation since the beginning, according to Mulligan.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer