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Man charged for murder of fiancé in Bartram Park in custody in Duval County

By Courtney Cole, Action News Jax and Action News Jax
By Courtney Cole, Action News Jax and Action News Jax
Wilford Chason is in the Duval County jail tonight.
The 51-year-old was booked just before 4:45 p.m. onTuesday evening for the murder of his fiance.
Right now, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office investigators are working to determine why Chason allegedly killed his 48-year-old fiance.
Today, investigators identified the woman found inside the Bartram Park home as Jennifer Herbert.
Action News Jax breporter Courtney Cole spoke to neighbors in the Twinleaf subdivision, where the incident happened, and learned new information from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office about Chason's state of mind following the crime.

MORE: Bartram Park murder suspect Wilford Chason: 8 things to know | JSO: Man tells police he killed wife at Bartram Park home

On Tuesday evening, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office released a case report and release explaining how the Jacksonville man ended up in their custody.
In the report, a Flagler County deputy was dispatched to a suicidal person on I-95 near mile marker 288, southbound.
Before that, St. Johns County Dispatch received a call from OnStar reporting that a male cut himself with a razor.
Once the vehicle was determined to be near the Flagler County line, FCSO deputies were then dispatched to mile marker 293 on I-95.
According to the report, Chason was driving 90 mph. OnStar helped stop the car.
When deputies came in contact with Chason, it appeared  he had cut himself several times on his arms, neck and other parts of his body.
The 51-year-old was then placed under the Baker Act and taken to Halifax Hospital in Daytona Beach.
While in the hospital, he told staff he had killed his wife.
FCSO then asked JSO to do a welfare check.
JSO deputies went out to Chason’s home on Blossom Circle and found Herbert’s body.
Action News Jax Crime Expert Ken Jefferson said this could affect how the case is handled.
“They’re going to have to determine: Is he’s competent enough to stand trial with a Baker Act having a play in it? A lot that depends on that Baker Act," said Jefferson. 
Jefferson said that, if he's proven to be incompetent, there will be no charges.
“They may commit him to a mental health facility so that he can get the help he needs,” Jefferson told Action News Jax.
Jefferson told Action News Jax this outcome can be difficult for victims' families to deal with, because they can be left feeling like justice was not served. 
JSO said they are searching Chason's car.
The medical examiner is working to determine Herbert’s cause of death.

Cox Media Group

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