FL - Colleen Potts, 73, found dead at Fernandina Beach property she was house sitting, 24 Oct 2021 *arrest*

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  • #1
Fernandina Beach neighbors are still on edge two days after police found a woman dead inside a home she was house sitting.

Those who live close to the home say they’re used to crime on their street but not murder.

“If you were to go into the backyard of this person’s house, you would hit my house. It’s definitely super close to home,” neighbor Samantha Nance said.

The woman found inside the home has since been identified as Colleen Potts, 73, of Yulee.

On social media, we learned she was a local dog walker and pet sitter in the area.

Action News Jax first told you Monday the Fernandina Beach Police Department is investigating the suspicious death as a homicide.

Police said they know how she died but they cannot release those details yet.

“We do not have anyone currently as a person of interest. We do have some leads that we’re tracking down,” Fernandina Beach Police Deputy Chief Jeffrey Tambasco said.

Some neighbors we spoke with said they didn’t personally know Potts but may have seen her walking dogs down the street once or twice.

“I hope they catch him or her, we don’t know, quickly so everybody can be at ease,” neighbor Cindy Nance.

With a killer on the loose, they’re not taking any chances.

“We usually leave our back door open so the dog and cats can go in and out, but I’m not gonna do that anymore until this is resolved,” Cindy said.

Right now police cannot confirm if the homicide was an attempted burglary or not. They do not believe there is a threat to the community, but they encourage everyone to take precautions.

“It’s definitely shocking just because I’ve lived here my whole life and usually murder doesn’t go with Amelia Island,” Samantha said.

Police said the homeowner is being cooperative in the investigation. They also said we should get another update on the case by the end of the week.

‘It’s definitely shocking’: Fernandina Beach Police identify victim in homicide investigation
 

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  • #2
It sounds like this is a nice neighborhood with “some” crime that’s probably property oriented. I’m hoping for a bunch of cameras to be around that will help catch this person(s).
 
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  • #5
Poor lady i'm guessing the petty property crimes may have led to murder,when an expected empty home was suddenly occupied. Why do they say there is no threat to the community??
 
  • #6
It was someone close to her.
 
  • #7
  • #8
We don’t believe “there’s a threat” but “take precautions”. How’s that for messaging? I’m seeing it in other cases too but I would offer that anytime there’s a killing with nobody caught for it, a threat exists.
 
  • #9
Police find Colleen Potts' vehicle may have been broken into | firstcoastnews.com

"The Fernandina Beach Police Department discovered the Kia Soul owned by the woman found dead in a home may have been broken into the day before. Colleen Potts was found dead inside a home while pet sitting on Oct. 24 in the 400 block of South 13th Street. She was last seen alive that evening driving her the Kia."

LE seem to be very informative with the community regarding some of the details of this case.
 
  • #10
It does sound like it’s someone who knew where she’d be. She would have been comfortable enough opening the door to them.

This is why my pet sitting help is in my home. I have no carpet and a big fenced in yard. No need to even take the dog for a walk. They’re happily worn out when they go home.
 
  • #11

During a court hearing Tuesday morning, jury selection was proposed for Feb. 3, with Shawn Whigham’s trial tentatively scheduled for Feb. 6.

The next hearing in the case was set for Sept. 6.
 
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  • #12
So who is this man? Was he someone she knew?
 
  • #13

During a court hearing Tuesday morning, jury selection was proposed for Feb. 3, with Shawn Whigham’s trial tentatively scheduled for Feb. 6.

The next hearing in the case was set for Sept. 6.
I hope he rots in prison. If he broke in the day before to steal why did he go back???

Snip:

Whigham, the original police report states, was interviewed on three occasions and provided conflicting statements during the first two interviews. It states Whigham admitted to fabricating details of prior statements and that he confessed to stealing about $300 out of Potts’ vehicle in October.

According to investigators, Whigham also admitted to entering a home on South 13th Street in Fernandina Beach a day later, when the home was left unoccupied, and searched the residence for items to steal.

The Fernandina Beach Police Department said that Whigham admitted to entering the residence with the intent to steal on Oct. 24 and that he encounter Potts in the living room. Investigators said Whigham admitted to shooting her, grabbing her purse and fleeing the home.
 
  • #14
Published 2/3/2022


Snip
The man accused of killing a beloved pet sitter in Fernandina Beach pleaded not guilty on Thursday morning.

Shawn Whigham is accused of killing 73-year-old Colleen Potts.

Snip:
Court records show that Whigham faces the following charges:
  • First-degree murder during the commission of a felony
  • Burglary
  • Armed burglary with assault or battery
  • Giving false information to law enforcement
  • Petit theft
The public defender also mentioned that Whigham had another pending case against him, which Whigham appeared surprised by during his Thursday morning court appearance. That case involves a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
 
  • #15

A trial date is now set for March 6 for a man indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of a Nassau County pet sitter, but there could still be delays.

Shawn Whigham’s lawyer told a judge on Tuesday that he’s set two mental competency evaluations for later this month.
 
  • #16
From Jan. 25, 2023. No contest, 20 years.
Shawn Whigham was sentenced to 20 years for the murder charge, 20 years for the armed burglary and assault charge, and 15 years for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge. The sentences will run concurrently.

Whigham has already been in jail for 406 days, so the judge gave him time served for that. Prosecutors also spoke with Potts’ family, who agreed to the deal.

Whigham was facing multiple charges that could have each carried a life sentence, but prosecutors offered him a deal to only serve 20 years if he pleaded no contest to three charges. Whigham’s initial charges were first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, armed burglary with assault and battery, and burglary to a dwelling while armed.
 

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