Homeless still occupy Cracraft murder scene

The investigation is continuing into the murder of 60 year-old Douglas Wilfred Cracraft, whose body was found lying in the wooded area west of the railroad tracks behind Shoppes of Northtowne in St Augustine Saturday night, January 7th.

The murder scene, on property that belongs to the Florida East Coast Railroad, is still being used as a homeless camp by approximately forty men and a few women who say they have no other place to live.

It may never be known why Cracraft, whose Florida driver’s license reflects the address in Jacksonville where police notified his family of his death, was living in a tent in the woods in St Augustine when he could have likely received safe shelter with relatives.

In a December 8th interview with Historic City News, our readers were introduced to Leroy Carter, who lives in the same encampment with his wife, Pam. In that interview, Leroy said, “they live a quiet life, keep to themselves, and are not afraid for their safety”. Those feelings may have changed.

An autopsy determined the cause of death was homicide.

Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of 43 year-old Matthew Steven Horn on the night of January 10th. He did not list an address at the time of his booking at the St Johns County Detention Facility, other than to say that he lived in St Augustine. Court records indicate that Horn also used an address in Richmond, Kentucky.

Horn remains in custody, without bond, charges with second-degree murder; a first-degree felony. Horn is represented by an attorney in the public defender’s office.

According to records on file with the Clerk of Court, Horn is known to law enforcement — he has answered numerous criminal and traffic charges in St Johns County going back ten years.