Governor Scott orders special prosecutor in OConnell death

On the heels of new information reported by Historic City News this week, following an exclusive interview at the Historic City Newsroom Monday with Florida private investigator Clu Wright, Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed an executive order directing that a Central Florida prosecutor come to St Augustine to investigate the circumstances surrounding what the sheriff has ruled a suicide.

The Governor has assigned the Honorable Jeffrey L. Ashton, State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida, the area covering Orlando (Orange County) and Osceola County, to discharge the duties of his office, as they relate to the investigation, prosecution and all matters related to the investigation into the death of Michelle O’Connell.

Locally, R. J. Larizza, State Attorney for the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, declared a conflict of interest in the investigation because the victim was living with Jeremy Banks at the time of her death, he was on the premises, and he called in the police report, and he also was, and continues to be, an appointed deputy sheriff at the heart of the investigation.

Larizza told the governor that he could not fairly and impartially investigate because of his working relationship with St Johns County Sheriff David B. Shoar, and the members of his department. The governor relieved Larizza from the investigation initially, and has done so again.

State Attorney Ashton, or one or more Assistant State Attorneys and Investigators designated by him, shall proceed immediately to the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, and are vested with the authority to perform the duties prescribed herein.

“All residents of the Seventh Judicial Circuit are requested, and all public officials are directed, to cooperate and render whatever assistance is necessary to the Assigned State Attorney, so that justice may be served,” Governor Scott wrote in his executive order.