Duval
A Live Oak man, already in custody for probation violation, has been charged for murdering a woman in March.
The Live Oak Police Department announced Sunday morning that Leroy Duval Jr., 60, was being charged with second-degree murder, burglary with battery and child abuse.
Duval lived in the Dalton Apartment Complex on SW 2nd Street where 30-year-old Blake Reaves was found murdered on March 2.
According to the LOPD, Duval was quickly identified as a person of interest in Reaves' death, based on evidence and witness testimony. He was arrested the following day for probation violation and has remained in Suwannee County Jail since then.
The LOPD release stated that evidence had to be analyzed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Lab. The FDLE was the lead agency investigating the case.
“Analysis of this kind is delicate and takes time to process,” the LOPD release stated.
LOPD officers responded to the apartment complex at 3:11 p.m. on March 2 due to an unattended toddler. When the officers arrived, they not only found the child but were then directed to the apartment where the toddler lived.
The door to that apartment was open and Reaves was lying on the floor, suffering from “severe injuries” and unresponsive.
Reaves died at the apartment despite aid from paramedics with Suwannee County Fire Rescue.
The LOPD has not yet released how Reaves died. A March release said investigators determined foul play was suspected based on what was observed at the apartment.
The child was not injured.