St. Augustine murder-suicide: Restraining order was filed before deaths

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Action News Jax has learned new information in a murder-suicide in St. Augustine. Deputies now say a woman’s estranged husband killed her before shooting himself.

Records show Kathy Edwards filed an injunction against her estranged husband, James Edwards, earlier this month – it was granted last week.

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“My heart is in pieces,” said David Wilson, Kathy’s brother.

A grieving brother who looked up to his big sister said he wanted to help.

“The day before yesterday, I asked her to come stay with me because she told me she was so scared,” he said.

But David Wilson said his sister insisted she was fine.

“I made a restraining order, it’s all good. I’ll stay here,” Wilson said she told him.

It wasn’t all good.

Police say Kathy Edwards, 53, was found shot to death inside an apartment on Carter Road Thursday night. Her estranged husband, James Edwards, 57, was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

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“A piece of paper won’t shield you from a handgun rounds, it just won’t,” said Dale Carson, Action News Jax law and safety expert.

Carson said protection can be complicated.

“You don’t antagonize the other party, you just don’t do that. You have enough common sense to not talk to a friend who will talk to that friend; you don’t need all this drama, and it’s that drama that triggers people to do things they would regret,” Carson said.

“You can’t replace people like this; they don’t come very often,” said Wilson.

Cox Media Group