Investigation into Slain Woman Continues in Wakulla County
According to Detective Bruce Ashley of the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office, the investigation into the death of 28-year old Leslie Dyan Drew is continuing. "We are stil awaiting investigative reports," said Ashley. "An autopsy was performed this morning, and cause of death was determined." Det. Ashley noted that there are details that can not yet be released because of pending toxicology reports.
"The investigation is still pending, and the suspect has not yet been charged with a capital crime," said Det. Ashley.
Law enforcement was made aware of the situation on Sunday, Nov. 30 when a call came in at around 1:00 p.m. from a citizen who was out walking his dog on West Arran Road out past Tall Timbers in the Apalachicola National Forest. The citizen came upon a purse and it's contents spilled on the ground, and called law enforcement when he spotted what appeared to be blood in the same area. A deputy and captain from the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office went to the scene to investigate, and discovered Ms. Drew's body in a wooded area at around 2:00 p.m. FDLE officers were called to the scene at this point.
After positively determining the identity of the victim, WCSO officers also determined that she had a two year old child. Law enforcement also discovered the name of Ms. Drew's boyfriend, Wakulla resident Steven Stubbs, who was living with her at the time of the incident. WCSO officers then went to Ms. Drew's home on Ponderosa Drive in the Grove Subdivision to check on the safety of the child.
Law enforcement arrived at the home at approximately 4:00 p.m. and found Stubbs' truck parked behind the house. A hose was running near the truck and a bottle of cleaning fluid was also present on the truck's tailgate. The officers walked into the open garage and loudly announced themselves. They knocked on the door, then started to enter the home. At this time, a shot rang out from inside the house and a bullet exited the wall near the door where the officers were located.
At this point, law enforcement withdrew and secured the neigborhood, alerting neighbors to the situation. Leon County's SWAT Team was called in, as well as extra technical support from Leon County.
Some minutes later law enforcement ensured that Ms. Drew's child was safely situated with her grandmother. The child had been with Ms. Drew's ex-husband most of the day and was placed in the care of the ex-husband's mother in the evening.
After the gunshot, law enforcement could hear activity in the home. "It sounded as if someone was moving around," reported Det. Ashley. Officers and family members tried repeatedly to communicate with the occupant throughout the evening with no success. "The goal of law enforcement was to try to negotiate a peaceful outcome, with no more injury," said Det. Ashley. At around 12:00 midnight, and after no more sounds of movement were heard, officers entered the home and found Steven Stubbs still alive in a bedroom closet with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his head. It appeared the gun had been shot within the closet.
Stubbs received medical attention on site from an EMT, and was then transported to the hospital for further care. He is currently on life support; his chances for survival are still unknown.
"We did have a warrant for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon prior to entering the home," said Det. Ashley, "but Mr. Stubbs has yet to be charged with a capital crime." Ashley reiterated that evidence collected from the Apalachicola National Forest, Stubbs' truck, and the home is still being analyzed.
Ms. Drew was employed as a teacher's aide at Riversink Elementary School, and as a result the school is responding to the situation with counseling being offered to teachers, staff, and students.
"This is a tragic, tragic situation with far reaching repercussions,"
said Ashley. "These two people were well loved and well known in the
Wakulla County community."
Publisher's Note: Steven Lee Stubbs passed away Monday, November 30, 2009 at 9:34 p.m. Felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and homicide would likely have been pressed if he had lived.
This information last updated on December 1, 2009.
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