New Smyrna Beach & South Daytona Cops: Joint investigation underway following apparent murder-suicide

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- A joint investigation is underway following deaths in New Smyrna and South Daytona, cops in both jurisdictions said Wednesday.

Here is a synopsis of what law enforcement believes is an apparent murder-suicide: The New Smyrna Beach Police Department responded to a call from an out-of-state woman on Tuesday, reporting a disturbing phone conversation with a woman known to her who is a New Smyrna Beach resident.

According to the reporting party, the 61-year-old woman stated she had killed her boyfriend and intended to take her own life.

NSBPD cops immediately responded to the woman’s residence in New Smyrna Beach. Upon arrival, while officers were attempting to make contact with her, the woman died by suicide. No officers were injured during the incident.

NSBPD requested the South Daytona Police Department conduct a welfare check at the residence of the man believed to be the woman’s boyfriend, located in South Daytona. SDPD officers responded and subsequently discovered a deceased 62-year-old male at that location.

The New Smyrna Beach Police Department is leading the investigation into the suicide, while the South Daytona Police Department is handling the homicide investigation. Both agencies are coordinating closely to determine the full scope and sequence of events. The identities of the deceased are being withheld at this time pending next-of-kin notification. Also, cops did not release any details on the manner and cause of death or if any weapons were used.

The New Smyrna Beach Police Department is leading the investigation into the suicide, while the South Daytona Police Department is handling the homicide investigation. Both agencies are coordinating closely to determine the full scope and sequence of events. The identities of the deceased are being withheld at this time pending next-of-kin notification. Also, cops did not release any details on the manner and cause of death or if any weapons were used.

"This remains an active and ongoing investigation," New Smyrna Beach police said in a joint press release with the South Daytona Police Department. "Additional details will be released as they become available."

Henry Frederick press card / Headline SurferAbout the Byline Writer: 

Henry Frederick is an award-winning journalist who launched Headline Surfer in 2008. The site serves the greater Daytona Beach, Sanford, and Orlando areas along the I-4 corridor and beyond via HeadlineSurfer.com in Lake Mary, Florida. Frederick earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in Orlando in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade, and before that, the same beat with The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. He's also worked as a city editor and city hall reporter for two dailies. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high-profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz & the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. Assisting Henry Frederick with Headline Surfer is Sera King, who writes about the weather and feature stories, takes photos, shoots video, and occasionally draws editorial cartoons. •  Bio: https://henryfrederick.com/.