FL - Dep. Mike Altman, 42, & Mellie McDaniel, 51, shot to death, 30 Jan 2007

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Dark Knight

Dark Knight

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The wife of a sheriff whose father was gunned down by a confessed serial killer 27 years ago was killed in a shootout at their home that also left three other people dead.


Mellie McDaniel, the wife of Jackson County's sheriff, died Tuesday evening along with a sheriff's deputy and two suspects.

Authorities said they believe the suspects targeted Sheriff John McDaniel's home in Marianna, in the Florida Panhandle.

"The community should not be concerned. We believe this was not a random case," State Attorney Steve Meadows said at a news conference late Tuesday.

More than 100 law officers searched the area surrounding the McDaniels' home into Wednesday morning, though Meadows said authorities did not believe there were additional suspects. He said the search was being conducted out of an abundance of caution.

The shootings began around 5 p.m. when Mellie McDaniel arrived home. The sheriff was notified that "intruders entered the area around his home," Meadows said.

Mellie McDaniel was shot moments later. A deputy also was shot.

Other officers, including the sheriff, arrived and killed the two suspects in an exchange of gunfire, Meadows said. The names of the deputy and the suspects were not released.



Much more at the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070131/ap_on_re_us/sheriff_s_house_shooting&printer=1



 
Whoa that is terrible. I always wondered if police officers families were protected in anyway due to people trying to get revenge or something like that. This is so sad.
 
link




MARIANNA, Fla. (AP) -- The wife of a sheriff whose father was gunned down by a confessed serial killer 27 years ago was killed in a shootout at their home that also left three other people dead.

Mellie McDaniel, the wife of Jackson County's sheriff, died Tuesday evening along with a sheriff's deputy and two suspects.





Respectfully,
dark_shadows
 
Terrible, just terrible. It sounds like the Sheriff's wife managed to make a phone call and a Deputy responded to the home invasion. Evidently he was the Deputy who was killed. Other Officers arrived on the scene including the Sheriff and the shootout began leaving the two suspects dead.
 
Saturday, February 3, 2007; 4:16 AM



MARIANNA, Fla. -- Long before authorities say Lionel Sands put on a disguise and killed the local sheriff's wife and a deputy, he was enmeshed in a battle over life insurance from his second wife's mysterious death _ a death in which he was the prime suspect.

A former U.S. Army Reserve officer, described as a loner by those who knew him, Sands had two master's degrees and a history of violence. His first wife, Susan Schenk, had taken out a restraining order against him more than two decades ago.

<snip>
Sands and Brown scoped out the home of Jackson County Sheriff John McDaniel and fatally shot his wife of five years as she arrived there, slaying Deputy Harold Michael Altman as he responded to her distress call, authorities said.

The two men were carrying plastic restraints, bleach, vinegar and latex gloves, authorities said. Both men were killed in a shootout with Sheriff McDaniel and other deputies minutes later, authorities said.

"Common sense would dictate those items could be used in a kidnapping situation," said Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman Karen Mason. But Mason said authorities "don't dare speculate on what was their plan."

more at the link http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/03/AR2007020300248.html
 
Shadow205 said:
Saturday, February 3, 2007; 4:16 AM



MARIANNA, Fla. -- Long before authorities say Lionel Sands put on a disguise and killed the local sheriff's wife and a deputy, he was enmeshed in a battle over life insurance from his second wife's mysterious death _ a death in which he was the prime suspect.

A former U.S. Army Reserve officer, described as a loner by those who knew him, Sands had two master's degrees and a history of violence. His first wife, Susan Schenk, had taken out a restraining order against him more than two decades ago.

<snip>
Sands and Brown scoped out the home of Jackson County Sheriff John McDaniel and fatally shot his wife of five years as she arrived there, slaying Deputy Harold Michael Altman as he responded to her distress call, authorities said.

The two men were carrying plastic restraints, bleach, vinegar and latex gloves, authorities said. Both men were killed in a shootout with Sheriff McDaniel and other deputies minutes later, authorities said.

"Common sense would dictate those items could be used in a kidnapping situation," said Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman Karen Mason. But Mason said authorities "don't dare speculate on what was their plan."

more at the link http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/03/AR2007020300248.html
Click to expand...


I heard from a friend that lives in Marianna that Sands had a hearing the same day all this happened. He lost. The insurance company was not going to pay him for the 500K policy he had on his wife. He also was expected to pay 30K for expenses into the investigation concerning her death. It was also talked that he was supposed to be picked up and charged with her murder in the very near future.

IMO

Ocean
 
Maybe I have watched too many detective shows, but this just seems too convenient. Sheriff isn't killed, wife of 5 years is. No suspects left alive to tell the tale. Hope he isn't involved, but makes one wonder....
 
ShowerSinger said:
Maybe I have watched too many detective shows, but this just seems too convenient. Sheriff isn't killed, wife of 5 years is. No suspects left alive to tell the tale. Hope he isn't involved, but makes one wonder....
Click to expand...
This was one of my first thoughts too! I also find it strange that she seems to have been killed right away, when she first stepped out of the car. If that was the plan, why did they bring bleach, vinegar and plastic cuffs?

I hope a thorough investigation is done by an outside agency, just to be sure all is as it appears to be. It probably isn't a set-up, but better safe than sorry!
 
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