Shoar: Special Prosecutor will reach the same conclusion

Last month, Historic City News reported that Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed an executive order directing that a Central Florida prosecutor come to St Augustine to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Michelle O’Connell.

St Johns County Sheriff, David B. Shoar, whose department has ruled the death a suicide, responded to the gubernatorial appointment and new investigation in an announcement that was distributed to the local media.

“The more this case became controversial, the more we embraced the idea of having two experienced death investigators examine and review this case,” Shoar explained. “Investigators who are objective, expertly trained, with years of experience, and who have not been subjected to the vagaries of social media.”

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.

“We are confident that the new Special Prosecutor will reach the same conclusion that one law enforcement agency, two State Attorney’s including one who was assigned as a Special Prosecutor by the Governor, and three medical examiners reached; that being the tragic death of Michelle O’Connell was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” wrote Shoar in his announcement. “We certainly hope that the O’Connell family finds peace and acceptance in the findings of this new Special Prosecutor, something we have never been able to provide.”

On this Monday, November 3rd at 4:00 p.m. EST, on CBS WJAX-TV, Comcast Channel 10, Historic City News readers will be watching as perhaps the most well-known mental health professional in the world, Dr. Phil McGraw, will see if he can get the O’Connell family to put their differences aside and come together and grieve for Michelle.

“Deputy Banks and Michelle’s brother, Deputy Scott O’Connell, have both filed civil lawsuits against the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and their agents; Dominic Pape and Rusty Rodgers,” Shoar pointed out. “It is truly ironic that the man that certain members of the O’Connell family have accused of being culpable in Michelle’s death, is the man filing a civil lawsuit — where one cannot hide behind the Fifth Amendment.”

On Monday’s program, members of the O’Connell family, including Michelle’s mother, Patty O’Connell, her sister Jennifer O’Connell, her brother Scott O’Connell, as well as their attorneys, Janet Johnson and Ben Crump, Banks’ attorney, Robert L. “Mac” McLeod, and former Deputy, Debra Maynard, are all participating and appear in the program.

“On many occasions I have thought about asking for this, but chose not to — once I realized the utter unfairness it would be to Deputy Banks,” Shoar said. “Along that same line, I often wish some of us could walk for a bit in his shoes.”