Jackson will face first-degree murder charges; victim's hands were bound, body burned.
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Sheriff Mark Hunter speaks about the investigation that led to the arrest of Robert Lee Jackson during a press conference Friday. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)
The severely burned, bound body found in the Osceola National Forest several weeks ago was the result of a drug territorial dispute, according to authorities.
In announcing the arrest of 25-year-old Robert Lee Jackson on Friday, Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter said the death — and most of the increase in violent crime the past few years in the community — is tied to drugs.
“We know what’s been going on and it’s not unique to just Columbia County,” Hunter said in a press conference Friday afternoon. “We’ve been tagged with ‘Oh my God we’re becoming the Wild West.’ But when you look around, violent crime has uptick and it’s not just here, but across the nation.
“We’re working together to bring this under control. It all ties back to the drugs.”
When asked about the death of 32-year-old Shawn Waldron, whose body was found alongside a trail road in the forest on April 11, as well as the ties to Jackson, Hunter said both are known for drug activity. He added the drug “gangs” will “have a turf war and they handle that through violence and intimidation.”
Jackson, who was arrested Friday morning by the U.S. Marshal’s Service in Jacksonville, will face murder charges, which State Attorney John Durrett said “will be” first-degree.
Jackson’s arrest was just the “first arrest in this case,” Hunter said, adding the investigation into the death of Waldron continues.
“We know there are other individuals involved with this,” Hunter said while not disclosing how many other suspects authorities have in the case. “We’re working hard.
“There was a lot of effort and non-stop effort for the last, approximately, two weeks.”
Hunter said he was sure the announcement of Jackson’s arrest will lead to other suspects fleeing the area and evidence being destroyed, making his department and their law enforcement partners’ jobs harder.
“I think it’s good for the community, to give them some reassurance that we are here, we are staying after it and we are working to make our community safe,” he said as he was flanked Friday by Durrett, Lake City Assistant Police Chief Andy Miles, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Mark Perez and Jason Poore with the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Waldron’s body was found April 11 in the Osceola National Forest around 3 p.m., north of Gum Swamp Road and west of Range Road. Responding deputies confirmed that foul play was suspected.
Hunter said Friday that Waldron’s hands were bound behind his back and his body was severely burned.
“In my years here, this is probably the worst case that I’ve seen,” he said, adding he wouldn’t yet say what the cause of death. “We have other things we’re looking at.”
A partial tattoo on the body resembled one that Waldron had, Hunter said, adding Waldron had been reported missing, although he declined to say how long Waldron was missing or how long the body had been in the forest.
The Medical Examiner’s Office in Jacksonville confirmed the victim was Waldron on April 17 through dental records.
Hunter said on April 12, the day after the body was found, Waldron’s phone was located near the intersection of NE Buddy Avenue and NE Fryer Street in Lake City. His bicycle was found the following day at an undisclosed location.
On April 18, a search warrant was executed at a residence on NE Maxwell Glen, about a block away from where Waldron’s phone was located, where Jackson has lived.
According to Hunter, who wouldn’t say how authorities were led to the residence, “evidence discovered (in the search) indicates this was a possible crime scene related to this case.”
During the press conference, Hunter thanked the community for its help, saying information provided by people in the community helped lead to the arrest.
Jackson is currently being held in Jacksonville, although Hunter said authorities will work to bring him back to Columbia County as quickly as they can.
Hunter said Jackson, who was involved in the drug trade, was known to travel around the state and had connections all across the state.
“We’ve done everything we can so far with this particular individual to ensure that he’s never going to see the light of day after this case goes to court,” Hunter said.