FL FL - Brooksville, WhtFem UP6043, 30-45, in woods west of I-75, Jul'72

[HmmMysterious]

Cold case cracked: Hernando County Sheriff's Office solves 1972 murder

Peggy married her killer, Jerry Lee Fletcher, on December 18, 1971, but he never talked or wrote about being married to her. She was found wrapped in a blanket similar to bedding from a hotel that Fletcher's family owned. His two ex-wives described Fletcher as violent and abusive and they both feared being killed by him. I feel so bad for Peggy. Her last moments must have been horrific.

Before killing Peggy, Fletcher abducted and raped a 16-year-old Tampa girl on February 18, 1972, He was found not guilty (WTF) four months later.

Fletcher then murdered another woman on April 19, 1973 whose body was also found wrapped in a blanket. In June 2011, his DNA matched to evidence from the 1971 rape, abduction, and murder of 14-year-old Gina Justi. Fletcher died in prison in 2014.

 

[dotr]

Hernando County Jane Doe (1972) is now Identified

Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Teams with Othram to Identify 1972 Homicide Victim

dnasolves.com

''In August 2022, Othram provided a possible identity of the Jane Doe to Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Detective George Loydgren who was able to collect a reference sample from a potential family member of the woman. The DNA profile of the potential family member was compared to Jane Doe’s DNA profile, leading to the positive identification of the woman as Peggy Joyce Shelton of Kentucky. Shelton was born March 30, 1943.

The murder of Peggy Shelton is being investigated by Detective Loydgren in an effort to identify the person or persons responsible for her murder. If you have any information on this case, please contact Detective George Loydgren at 352-754-6830. If you have information and would like to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward, please contact Hernando County Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-866-990-TIPS (8477) or online at Hernando County Crime Stoppers. You will remain anonymous and also be eligible for a reward up to $5,000 cash.''

'Aug 2, 2024
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office said it has identified a suspect who killed a woman in 1972 and dumped her body in a wooded area of Brooksville. Sheriff Al Nienhuis held a press conference on Thursday. He said Jerry Lee Fletcher killed Peggy Joyce Shelton in July of 1972. Her body was discovered wrapped in a blanket in the area of High Corner Road and Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville.'

 

[MarziPanda]

The video news report on page 9 stated that he admitted to having murdered other women in Florida but wouldn't give any details because the DP wasn't off the table. Wonder if there are any other unsolved murders in Florida (and anywhere else he lived) that match his MO (rape, strangulation, wrapped in blanket) that we could look at.

This thread needs to be updated with Peggy's name and moved to Identified.

 

[Skully]

The video news report on page 9 stated that he admitted to having murdered other women in Florida but wouldn't give any details because the DP wasn't off the table. Wonder if there are any other unsolved murders in Florida (and anywhere else he lived) that match his MO (rape, strangulation, wrapped in blanket) that we could look at.

This thread needs to be updated with Peggy's name and moved to Identified.

Detective Mike Baily was the detective that got the DNA and convicted him of murdering a young girl here in FL. He interviewed JLF and did get the death penalty taken off the table and JLF refused to give up the other women and girls he murdered after he got his deal. The is an article stating that If I find it I will link it. I worked with Mike and George on this case.

found it...

The coldest case: 42 years later, man admits to murder in Pinellas

LARGO — Armed with DNA evidence, Pinellas sheriff's detectives traveled to Illinois to tell a prisoner that they knew about the 14-year-old girl he killed and left in an orange grove four decades...

www.tampabay.com

 

[Skully]

Peggy Joyce Shelton in July of 1972- Solved
Mods can we get her thread title changed? We were so happy to give her back her name and to her family. And happy to find her killer, even though he was already dead.

 

[Jbetty567]

Peggy Joyce Shelton in July of 1972- Solved
Mods can we get her thread title changed? We were so happy to give her back her name and to her family. And happy to find her killer, even though he was already dead.

Skully, I'm covering this case for an upcoming podcast episode - I'm planning on calling the detective but wondered whether this could be the 1972 case Fletcher was apparently tried and acquitted for: Tampa Times 2/19/72:

 

[Jbetty567]

Skully, I'm covering this case for an upcoming podcast episode - I'm planning on calling the detective but wondered whether this could be the 1972 case Fletcher was apparently tried and acquitted for: Tampa Times 2/19/72:

I just answered my own question: it was this incident that Fletcher was charged for. I wonder why he was acquitted.

 

[Skully]

Skully, I'm covering this case for an upcoming podcast episode - I'm planning on calling the detective but wondered whether this could be the 1972 case Fletcher was apparently tried and acquitted for: Tampa Times 2/19/72:

Sorry I haven't been here in awhile. I listened to the podcast, it was good. George sent me the link.