Arrest made in Copeland murder

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Under Florida Statute 985.04, the name, photograph and arrest report of a juvenile offender who commits a felony offense, is charged with a felony violation, or is transferred to an adult court of law is not considered confidential and exempt solely because of the child's age. All information has been obtained by ECB Publishing Inc. reporters from local law enforcement agencies and was released legally and fairly.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) has arrested 17-year-old Lance Nealy Jr. for the Aug. 23, 2022, murder of Essie May Copeland. Nealy has been charged as an adult and is currently being held in the Jefferson County Jail. The investigation is still ongoing, and JCSO's detectives ask that anyone with information please call the JCSO at (850) 997-2023 or Big Bend Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS.
Sheriff Mac McNeill would like to thank the JCSO's detectives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the State Attorney’s Office for their hard work in helping bring justice for the family and friends of Essie May Copeland.
Copeland was found shot but still alive when JCSO responded to a reported shooting in the area of East Clark Avenue in Monticello at 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 23. Copeland was transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital by Jefferson County EMS, but succumbed to her injuries later that same night.
This case has rekindled interest in a shooting that occurred in the same location exactly one year ago. On Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, the JCSO responded to the East Clark Avenue area of Monticello, where Lyndon Dawson, age 23, and Jamien Davis, age 21, were both found dead as a result of gunshot wounds. Subsequent investigation showed that Dawson and Davis had shot each other.