Thanksgiving murder-suicide: Florida man Jonathan Dimick Sr shoots himself in the abdomen after dismembering victim
INVERNESS, FLORIDA: Jonathan Dimick Sr, 75, allegedly killed 67-year-old James Banks, then dismembered and stuffed him in the trunk of his own vehicle, before fatally shooting himself in the abdomen on November 23, the day of Thanksgiving.
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office informed the general public of the gruesome discovery in a press release via Facebook.
Deputies reportedly responded to an urgent request for a well-being check near the area of Poe Street and Eden Drive. They had received information about a potential murder in the area.
What did the responding officers discover?
On arriving at Dimick Sr's residence, the deputies knocked on the door and announced themselves, but were not met with any response. This made the officials concerned for the safety of the victim and the suspect, and they decided to check the home's perimeter.
According to the press release, patrol units in the backyard discovered "a large butcher style knife on the ground, blood, and drag marks." It was then that they feared the complainant’s claims to be true and that "a crime had been committed."
After trying to make contact with the suspect a few more times, the deputies entered the hose to discover him sitting unresponsive in his living room, still alive with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his abdomen.
"The suspect received emergency medical treatment from members of Citrus County Fire Rescue before being transferred over to a helicopter and transported for medical treatment. He succumbed to his injuries at the hospital," read the press release.
Banks was eventually discovered by the investigators in the trunk of his own vehicle.
The relationship between the suspect and the victim, or the motive of the crime, is yet to be revealed.
Sheriff Mike Prendergast's statement on the case
"The scene our deputies responded to was absolutely shocking. It is rare that a case this horrific occurs in Citrus County, but this is what we prepare for. It is truly unfortunate that our suspect will never be prosecuted for this brutal crime," said the Sheriff.
"However, thanks to the caller’s courage and our team’s quick response, Mr. Banks’ family can begin their grieving process with the knowledge that no one will ever again suffer by the hands of Mr. Dimick,” he added.
