I had to do a refresher & make a cheat sheet with all these people… So many offensive twists with Mayor & LE Chief & Captain interference imo. Really seems like pastor wants to help- almost seems like officials have pressured him into silence, disguised as “support”. Are they? And why?
Jabez Spann, 1st witness, 14, to shooting & murder of Travis Combs, while leaving his friend’s house on 22nd St to return home approx 200 yards away on 23rd St. Went missing 1 week later, Sept 4, after attending Combs’candlelight vigil. His skeletonized remains were found Feb 16, 2019 in rural Manatee County, west of I-75.
Travis Combs, 31, murder victim of 3 men in grassy, empty lot, 1631 22nd Street, died from single gunshot to chest. Do we have a thread for him on WS? Haven’t looked yet…
Three Suspects of Travis Combs’ Murder
Suspect 1: ran N on foot
Suspect 2: ran N on foot
Suspect 3: took Combs car, later found burned in Manatee County. Do we know when the car was found & how close to Jabez’ remains?
2nd Witness: Reginald Lee Parker, 55, told 3 people he witnessed Combs’ fatal shooting. Recanted his witness claim in county jail (arrested via unrelated warrant for failure to appear in court), denied telling anyone he saw Combs’ shooting. Detectives brought the 3 people Parker spoke to about the killing into jail, to confront Parker in person. Parker again denied witnessing the death & has been charged as accessory to murder for impeding investigation of armed robbery murder.
3rd Witness: unidentified woman, corroborated Parker’s statement, also heard gunshot & saw men running from scene.
Parker Witnesses: All 3 people Parker allegedly told about Combs’ murder provided sworn statements to police.
Pastor Witness: Kelvin Lumpkin, Light of the World International Church, told Sarasota Police detectives he had info about Combs’ homicide. Before he could be interviewed by LE, his attorney wrote a letter to SPD, stating Lumpkin would invoke his “pastoral privilege” and refuse to answer any questions. Lumpkin has advocated in Facebook videos for info regarding Spann’s case- joined by SPD Chief & Captain. He reached out to news reporters & left a message but never responded to attempts to return the call.
Pastor’s Attorney: Sarasota Mayor Shelli Freeland Eddie. She was mayor of Sarasota 2017-2018, at the time she represented Lumpkin. Conflict of interest?!
Sarasota Police Department report:
Parker’s arrest report is the first of any official documents that indicate Spann witnessed the still unsolved death. It states he knew who committed the crimes & avoided telling LE with the intent of helping suspects “avoid or escape detection.” “Oh my God. Y’all shot him,” Spann is quoted as saying in the report, as the suspects scattered.
Sarasota Police Chief & Captain:
Chief Bernadette DiPino & Capt. Corinne Stannish joined Lumpkin in FB video, saying that the pastor did not withhold info about “a homicide case” or about Spann. They did not acknowledge a potential link between Combs’ death & Spann’s disappearance.
DiPino described Lumpkin as a “good steward of our community and he has been cooperating with our police when appropriate. I can tell you in my experience with him, he’s been a man of honor, a man of truth, a man looking out for our community and our Police Department. He is that wedge; he bonds us together, the police and the community. I value that and I don’t want that to be disrupted….”
The FBI, the FDLE & Sarasota PD are offering a combined $50,000 reward… please call Sarasota Crime Stoppers at 941-366-TIPS (8477) or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.
Jabez Spann reportedly witnessed murder before disappearing
Former Mayors | City of Sarasota
“Fully skeletonized” remains found in rural Florida identified as missing teen Jabez Spann
Five years of Dateline’s Missing in America: 109 still missing
Jabez Spann: The Unsolved Death Of A 14-Year-Old Boy, Whose Body Was Found Nearly Two Years After He Went Missing - The Criminal Journal
SIDE NOTE: If my pastor knew the killer of 2 people, but felt his duty as confidant was more important than his duty to Spann & Combs, their families & that community, I’d find myself another church. Imho