GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – A 43-year-old woman was fatally stabbed in front of her 14-year-old daughter Wednesday night at a Green Cove Springs apartment complex, the Clay County Sheriff's Office said. The Florida Highway Patrol said the victim's boyfriend -- the man believed to have killed her -- died a few minutes later in a crash while speeding away from the scene.
Deputies responding to a report of a stabbing at the St. Johns Landing Apartments on Orion Road at 6:30 p.m. found Shelly Labine stabbed to death.
"We were advised of a domestic dispute that took place between an engaged couple," Lt. Wayne McKinney said. "There is a juvenile child who also resides in the residence, who observed a good majority of this incident, as well as a witness from next door who came over as a result of hearing some of the noise."
Deputies said 39-year-old Derrick Allen left the scene in his white BMW SUV. FHP troopers said Allen drove west on Russell Road at a high rate of speed.
Troopers said that as the SUV exited a curve about 3 miles from the stabbing scene, Allen lost control and left the road, struck two mailboxes and a fence before overturning. Allen, who troopers said was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the SUV and landed on the front lawn of a private home. Authorities said he was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital Clay County Campus and died.
McKinney said the couple had been living in the St. Johns Landing apartments for about a month.
"We're not sure if it's an ongoing problem," said McKinney. "We've been told since residing here, we haven't had many issues."
News4Jax was told Labine's daughter witnessed the stabbing. The girl was in CCSO custody Wednesday night while authorities worked with the Department of Children and Families to place her with family members.
A section of Russell Road from Hidden Waters East to Mariners Road was closed for hours while the the FHP investigated the crash.