Fleeing Suspect Sought In Titusville Murder Dies In Georgia
By Space Coast Daily // January 14, 2013
Medical Examiner To Conduct Autopsy On Victim
BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA – Detectives from the Titusville Police Department are continuing an investigation of a homicide at 230 Avilez Boulevard in Titusville.
Sgt. Thomas House of the Titusville Police Department said officers responding to a call for service discovered the body they believe to be Michelle Renee Chappell, 41, at the Avilez Boulevard location Sunday and immediately launched a homicide investigation.
Chappell’s family was notified, but House said positive identification will however be determined by the Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office.
House said that during an initial sweep of the crime scene, the detectives discovered a gold Nissan was missing from the residence.
A canvass of the neighborhood revealed that a person of interest was observed leaving the area in the Nissan earlier on Sunday.
An alert about the Nissan was issued to law enforcement agencies and deputies from the Camden County Georgia Sheriff’s Department spotted the vehicle at about 9:20 p.m. Sunday traveling north on I-95 and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
The vehicle fled from authorities and subsequently crashed, House said.
One of the two occupants — a suspect in the Titusville homicide, Christian Joseph Murphy of Titusville, 21, — was killed in the crash.
Camden County is about 180 miles north of Titusville and some 30 miles south of Brunswick, Ga.
House said Titusville officers notified Murphy’s family of his death at the request of the George State Police and two detectives from the Titusville Police Department are currently in Georgia examining evidence found in the Nissan .
Hose said the body of the deceased victim was removed from the property in Titusville and an autopsy will be conducted by the Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office to try and determine the cause of death.
A preliminary investigation reveals that Murphy was known to Chappell and that this is not a random act of violence, according to House.
House said that detectives from both the Camden County Sheriff’s Department and the Titusville Police Department are working together to bring closure to this case.
The investigation continues at this time for further evidence and to identify any other possible suspects.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Det. Allen Davies at 321-264-7835 or CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).
