UPDATE: Stabbing Suspect Charged with First-degree Murder
Bunnell, FL – On August 2, 2024, at approximately 0814 hours, Officers of the Bunnell Police Department (BPD) and Deputies with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) responded to a stabbing call at 408 South Pine Street located in the City of Bunnell, Florida. FCSO Deputies Kusek and Gaddie performed basic life-saving measures on the female victim, who was identified as Yolonda Charmaine Williams, age 50. The stabbing suspect, identified as Jermaine Mandell Williams Sr., age 52, remained on scene and was taken into custody by BPD Officer Kilpatrick. Yolanda Williams and Jermaine Williams were married at the time of this incident and resided in the 408 South Pine St home.
When the law enforcement officers first arrived, they found the victim, Yolonda Williams, with numerous lacerations in the form of stab wounds. The suspect, Jermaine Williams, was lying on the ground and had blood on his pants and other clothing.
A witness walking through the neighborhood told officers she heard screaming while walking westbound on Dr. M.L.K Ave at the intersection of S. Pine Street.
A second witness told officers he was walking on S. Pine Street when he saw two people on the road and the female victim was screaming for help. This witness told officers he observed the male suspect stabbing the victim multiple times and then observed neighbors arrive, telling the male suspect to stop. The suspect stopped stabbing the victim and stated, “I’m tired of the shit,” as the female victim laid motionless on the ground.
A third witness told officers he heard someone yelling outside their residence across from the incident location. When the witness walked outside, they observed the female victim on the ground. The witness said he observed another man pointing a gun at the suspect, who was holding the knife he used against the victim, describing the knife as having a 6 to 8-inch blade and black handle with blood on the blade.
A fourth witness said he observed the suspect, who was his son, stabbing the victim multiple times and yelled out to him to stop or he was going to shoot him. This witness said the suspect stopped and was shortly taken into custody by the police.
Nearby video surveillance showed the suspect, Jermaine Williams, outside his residence with the victim. He re-entered the residence briefly, returned outside where the victim was standing next to a car, and then attacked the victim by stabbing her multiple times with the knife.
Responding detectives located the knife and described it as a large kitchen knife with approximately an eight-inch blade and a black handle.
The victim was transported by Flagler County Fire Rescue to Advent South Medical Center, Palm Coast, where she was pronounced deceased.
The suspect was transported to the Flager County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center and agreed to cooperate with an interview with detectives. After being informed of his rights, Williams said he and his wife have been fighting for a few weeks and he was sleeping in his truck in the driveway. Williams said he woke up this morning, went into the home, and told the victim he didn’t want to live this way anymore and was making efforts to get back together. The victim was not responsive to these remarks and she walked outside to go to work, but discovered her car would not start. Williams offered to take the victim to work, but she said she was going to call someone else to come get her.
Williams told detectives that during their argument, the victim made a statement to the effect of, “Poor Jermaine. Do you want me to play you a violin?” Williams said this remark pushed him over the edge and made him feel like he had nothing else to live for. Williams said he entered the home and went into a kitchen drawer to retrieve a knife. He claimed he “blacked out”. Williams said when he exited the residence he approached Yolonda, who attempted to retreat into the street. Williams admitted he then attacked the victim but could not remember how many times he struck her with the knife, but knew it was more than once.
At the time of this incident, Williams was on probation for charges stemming from a 2022 incident of domestic violence involving this victim. In that case, Williams was charged with one count each of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault, False Imprisonment, and Tampering with a Witness. The conditions of Williams’ probation only allowed him to have contact with the victim in writing.
Records indicated an injunction for protection was entered by the court following the 2022 incident and arrest; however, it was dismissed in the same year.
Bunnell Police Lieutenant Shane Groth charged Williams with one-count of First-degree Premeditated Murder and one count of Violation of Probation. Williams was transported to the Flagler County Inmate Facility, where he is being held without bond.
