After allegedly storming into his estranged wife’s house and stabbing her up to 70 times, a Florida man passed away in an automobile accident. According to authorities, the murder happened roughly a month after a judge who was suspended last week for using foul language refused to wear an ankle monitor.
Less than a month before killing his estranged wife, Kristin Stevens, 40, James Lindsey, 42, allegedly assaulted her, according to the police. On November 6, he was taken into custody for domestic violence battery at her residence, where he is accused of killing her.
The judge had been sought to put Lindsey under GPS surveillance by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and the 18th Judicial Circuit Attorney’s Office. Judge Wayne Culver of the Seminole County Circuit Court, however, turned down Lindsey’s motion and told her not to get in touch with Stevens.
Around one in the morning on Thursday, the sheriff’s office said that it had been called to a residence on the 2600 block of Hibbard Trail in Chuluota, which is roughly 20 miles northeast of Orlando, where two persons had been stabbed. Deputies discovered Stevens deceased in his house with several stab wounds.
After being stabbed, another victim—an unnamed man—ran to a neighbor’s house to dial 911. A 16-year-old boy was also present at the house at the time of the incident, although he was unharmed.
Deputies claim that Lindsey broke into the house, assaulted the two victims, and then ran away. Four hours later, Lindsey lost her life in a single-vehicle collision.
The surviving victim informed deputies that Lindsey was on top of Stevens and stabbed her in the bedroom, according to Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, who made this announcement during a press conference. The man was stabbed in the leg while attempting to fend Lindsey off. According to Lemma, Lindsey stabbed Stevens between 20 and 70 times.
In an interview, Lemma stated that this is a tragic and terrible event that will affect families and a community for a long time. I am proud of our detectives’ diligent work to piece together these cases and our deputies’ prompt arrival at the site.
During this very trying time, our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. Our staff will keep up its diligent efforts to uncover the whole case.
Associated coverage:
The pair has a history of domestic violence offenses involving law enforcement, according to Lemma.
Stevens claimed that Lindsey kicked her off the bed while she was trying to sleep, according the probable cause arrest affidavit for Lindsey’s domestic abuse arrest.
According to the complaint, Lindsey allegedly threw her against a door when she tried to leave the room, leaving her with a minor bruising on her left eye.
According to the affidavit, Lindsey told deputies that he and his wife were having issues and that she was acting strangely.
According to him, Stevens struck herself with the door. He was taken into custody by deputies and sent to the Seminole County Jail.
Judge Wayne Culver of the Seminole County Circuit Court (screenshot from WKMG on YouTube).The Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded Judge Culver for his rude and intemperate behavior during two distinct court sessions unconnected to Lindsey, and suspended him without pay for 60 days when he denied GPS monitoring.
The Florida Supreme Court rejected the agreement, claiming that it disapproved of the proposed sanctions, despite the disciplinary panel and Culver reaching a settlement in June 2022 that recommended Culver serve a 60-day suspension.
Rather, it instructed the panel to convene a thorough hearing regarding the judge’s alleged misbehavior, which led to the suspension last week.
As Culver presided over a sentencing hearing for a defendant on February 10, 2022, another defendant entered the courtroom and started to search for a seat but was unsuccessful. For social separation, the panel observed that seats were marked off every six feet.
When Judge Culver saw him, he exclaimed angrily, “Sir, I’m doing something here.” Would you please sit down and stop talking? The advice was written.
To receive more breaking news and updates, subscribe to the Law & Crime Daily Newsletter.When the defendant said he was looking for a seat, Culver scolded him and used profanity to threaten to put him in jail.
Culver stated, “That is not shutting up.” Would you rather go to jail and be found in contempt? The question I asked you was a f ing one.
The committee claimed that Culver’s use of words stunned him.
According to the committee’s report, Judge Culver acknowledged that his use of vulgarity shocked him and that the public would be horrified. When he told his judicial assistant, “I really messed up in there,” he realized it instantly.
In a different case, Culver gave a defendant a 179-day jail term for not finishing a court-mandated domestic violence program on time.
Culver denied the defendant the opportunity to defend himself and speak for himself as he was being carried from the courtroom. In addition, Culver threatened to put another woman in the gallery in jail when she stood up and tried to speak to the court.
“Sit down, Ma’am, or you’ll also be taken into custody,” he said.
After a successful appeal, the sentence was reversed.
But because Culver was the main caretaker for his 87-year-old father, who was hospitalized, incapacitated, dying, and maybe being abused by a third party, the panel acknowledged that Culver was dealing with especially challenging personal difficulties.
The panel suggested that Culver continue his anger management and stress management treatment in addition to the suspension and punishment.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.