Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
A weekend home invasion and investigation that began in Panama City Beach, Fla. ended in Jefferson County when deputies found a suspect who had fled from Bay County after committing a crime.
On Saturday, Feb. 1, at around 1 p.m., the Panama City Beach Police Department (PCBPD) responded to a robbery that had taken place on Front Beach Road, in the area of Pier Park. When arriving at the reported location, police officers found two victims, a brother and a sister, who had been robbed, beaten and tied up inside their home. The victims had managed to free themselves, after the suspect left the scene, and received help from a neighbor.
In addition to the mistreatment they had received, the victims' car had also been stolen by the suspect before he fled the scene.
The two victims provided a physical description of the man to the Panama City Beach law enforcement.
During the ensuing investigation, the Panama City Beach Police Department determined that the stolen vehicle had been transported across several counties and was currently located in Jefferson County.
The PCBPD contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO), advising them of the case and asking for assistance in apprehending the suspect.
JCSO's deputies responded to the Lloyd area, where they began to search for the vehicle.
At around 6:28 p.m., deputies located the vehicle in the general area of Lloyd First Baptist Church. The vehicle was unoccupied, and Jefferson Correctional Institute's K-9 Search Team, along with the local Florida Highway Patrol squad, was called in to assist in tracking the suspect.
While the search continued, Jefferson County Sheriff Mac McNeill investigated the nearby Econolodge Motel in Lloyd, in the event that the suspect had taken shelter in the motel after abandoning the vehicle at the church.
Sheriff McNeill's suspicions proved correct, as at 8:25 p.m., the same day that the crime had been committed, the suspect was located in one of the motel rooms.
JCSO deputies arrived on the scene and began to evacuate the nearby motel rooms while trying to talk the suspect into leaving his room.
According to the report issued by the JCSO, the suspect chose instead to end his own life instead of being taken into custody by law enforcement.
The suspect’s name was later identified, following notification of the suspect's next of kin as Robert Wagner.