Victim identified in fall from hotel balcony

Historic City News reporters received an update from St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kevin Kelshaw regarding a hotel guest who appears to have fallen to his death this morning.

St. Johns County Sheriff’s detectives are continuing their investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of 35 year-old Wayne Packard who resides in Long Beach, California. He had been staying at the hotel since Monday on business.

Sgt. Charles E. Mulligan first reported the incident to Historic City News as he was on his way to the scene this morning. Deputies responded to a call from the Renaissance Hotel, 500 Legacy Trail, at the World Golf Village shortly after 6:30 a.m.

Investigators found Packard’s body in a first floor fountain. According to statements in the incident report; the victim fell across a railing from an internal balcony. There is no word yet from which floor the victim fell.

“Packard was working as a software designer for Carlisle Interconnect Technologies,” Kelshaw said. “He was not married and had been employed with the company for ten years.”

Kelshaw told Historic City News that there is no evidence of foul play — pending results of an autopsy and the detective’s investigation.

The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village is managed by John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer