State to seek death penalty against man accused of killing his wife and her friend

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The State of Florida announced Tuesday that it will seek the death penalty against James Colley, 35.

Colley is the St. Johns County man accused of shooting and killing his wife, Amanda Cloaninger Colley and her friend Lindy Dobbins on August 27. The shootings happened in the Murabella community near World Golf Village, prompting the lockdown of three nearby schools.

Colley was arrested that same day in Virginia after a daylong nationwide manhunt. Colley reportedly began his assault by shooting through sliding glass doors, statements released in August said.

Colley's wife had previously sought protection from her husband.

According to the petition filed July 13 by James Colley's wife, Amanda Cloaninger-Colley, she said Colley has previously threatened, harassed, stalked or physically abused her. She also said he has their children and would go on the run if she tries to find them. Action News Jax also obtained the final judgment for protection against domestic violence signed Aug. 7.

According to the survivors' statements, Colley emerged from the rear of the house and began shooting while four people were inside. Among the four were Amanda Colley, Colley's estranged wife, her friend Lindy Dobbins, and Rachel Hendricks and Lamar Douberly.

The witnesses said Colley, armed with a handgun, gained entry into the home while Dobbins and Hendricks hid in a closet. The statement said that Colley entered the closet and shot Dobbins. Hendricks was able to escape the closet; she ran from the scene and called 911. Douberly also called 911 after escaping through the garage door.

The statement said that Amanda Colley hid in a bathroom while the other two women hid in an interior closet. Hendricks said she blocked the closet door with her body so that James Colley could not get inside the closet; the statement said that James Colley yelled "Where is he?" — indicating that he was looking for Douberly. After Hendricks told Colley that Douberly was not in the closet, Colley shot through the closet door, barely missing Hendricks. The statement said Colley entered the closet and began shooting Dobbins. Hendricks was able to escape.

That morning, on Aug. 27, James Sr. had taken the Colley's two children to school and then met James at the courthouse, where he was due for a hearing for violating a restraining order. Colley Sr. said his son left the courthouse feeling fine and and was almost to work when he must have had some sort of correspondence with his estranged wife.

According to documents, the elder Colley told police that his son was "furious" after the Aug. 27 court appearance and that he warned his son not to do anything foolish.  James Colley's sister called the part of this report inaccurate, saying "My father as well as the people in the courtroom that day agree that my brother's disposition was 'fine.'"

WJAX