BUNNELL, Fla. – A Flagler County jury took just 20 minutes to convict a man of first-degree murder after a two-day trial in the 2024 stabbing death of his wife outside their home.
The jury, consisting of 10 women and two men, found Jermaine Williams Sr. guilty as charged of first-degree murder.
According to prosecutors, the attack occurred on Aug. 2, 2024, outside the couple’s home in Bunnell.
Evidence presented during the trial showed Williams went inside the residence, retrieved an 8-inch chef’s knife from the kitchen and returned outside, where he repeatedly stabbed his wife.
The victim’s 14-year-old son witnessed the attack and attempted to intervene. Williams’ father, who lived nearby, came upon the scene and held his son at gunpoint until he stepped away from the victim, prosecutors said.
The victim suffered between 19 and 20 stab wounds and was transported to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.
Surveillance video introduced during the trial captured Williams entering the home before returning with the knife used in the attack, according to prosecutors.
After his arrest, Williams admitted to detectives that he had retrieved the knife and stabbed his wife multiple times. Investigators said he told them a comment she made had “pushed him over the edge.”
Following the verdict, State Attorney R.J. Larizza announced prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
“This was a brutal and vicious murder,” Larizza said in a statement. “We move on to the sentencing phase where we will be seeking the death penalty.”
The case was investigated by the Bunnell Police Department with assistance from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Chief of Homicide Jason Lewis and Assistant State Attorney Helen Schwartz prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Florida.
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols presided over the trial and will impose sentence after the penalty phase concludes. Jury selection for the penalty phase is scheduled to begin Tuesday, July 21, 2026.