Auburndale, FL: Apparent Murder-Suicide Involved Auburndale Couple

AUBURNDALE | An Auburndale couple found dead in their home Thursday night died in an apparent murder-suicide, deputies said.

Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives identified the couple as Stephanie Dawn Jakey, 36, and her husband, William Howard Jakey, 61.

They were found on a bed in the bedroom of their home at 456 Jeans Road about 7:45 p.m. Thursday, deputies said.

The sheriff's office said both apparently died of gunshot wounds.

Autopsies were expected to be finished Friday.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said William Jakey shot and killed his wife with a bullet to the head from a .38-caliber revolver, then turned the gun on himself. William Jakey also had a gunshot wound in the head.

“There was no suicide note” and investigators have not learned anything so far about what might have sparked the shooting, Judd said.

Judd said the findings are preliminary and could change pending further investigation. He said there is plenty more to investigate, which could lead to a better understanding of what happened.

The couple had not been seen or heard from for several days, the sheriff's office said. Judd said a concerned friend went to the residence to check on the couple and found them dead, lying on their bed.

He said the couple was apparently dead about three days before being discovered.

“There were no signs of forced entry into the residence, nor were there any signs of a struggle,” according to a news release.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood said deputies were never called to the Jakey home to respond to a call about domestic violence.

The Jakeys lived on a quiet road in northern Auburndale.

A neighbor said William Jakey worked at Grenelefe, a golf course and resort area in Haines City.

A man who answered the phone at the office of the Grenelefe condo association said Janke worked at the association as a carpenter for several years, but he declined further comment.

Ray Wiertzema lives next door to the Jakeys' home. He said the couple had been renting the home for about a year.

Wiertzema said he sometimes chatted with William Jakey, but it was lighthearted conversation.

“He seemed to pretty much keep to himself,” Wiertzema said.

The couple “had two little, bitty dogs,” he said.

It was a surprise to see investigators show up next door, Wiertzema said.

“This is a nice, quiet little neighborhood.”