WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) — A multi-agency manhunt ended with a suspect who was taken into custody after being found in a mud hole Tuesday afternoon.
Deputies for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in northern Florida led the search, resulting in the arrest of 40-year-old David Earl Gipson of Caryville.
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Gipson has been accused of murdering 74-year-old Lettty Cooper Collins and brutally beating his stepdaughter.
The search began Monday and ended with Gipson’s arrest at about 3pm on Tuesday. Gipson was on foot for hours before his arrest.
“The dog team never gave up. [Gipson] I didn’t give up. He kept running, he kept running. At one point we came to where he had gone down into a mud hole and tried to cover himself with mud. And all he does is try to throw away the scent of a dog. He was just trying to avoid a capture, but it didn’t work and we got him,” Washington County Kevin Crew said.
Deputies received a call from a passerby about 5:20pm on Monday. He said he found the victim of a brutal attack walking down Douglas Ferry Road.
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The crew confirmed that Gipson knew the victim’s family, but did not confirm the relationship.
He said Gipson visited the victim’s residence and threatened his stepdaughter.
“[Gipson] “Your husband and stepbrothers are burglars and owes me money, so I’m here to take it,” he said. The victim said this time he began taking items from her home and she began arguing with him. He then attacked her, knocking her to the ground and handcuffing her, and during the brawl he removed her clothes. The victim said she was handcuffed and naked while she was lying on the floor and he began attacking her stepmother,” the crew said.
The sheriff’s crew said Collins was essentially “beated into pulp” and was declared dead at the scene.
Gipson then took Collins’ stepdaughter to his residence. Her legs were tied behind her back for several hours, and the plywood was weighed under the box.
She escaped and was able to head to Douglas Ferry Road, where she was found. Paramedics take her to a local hospital, and she is expected to recover in full.
Holmes, Bay and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and former US s services FHP, FWC and FDLE were involved in the search.
The crew says Gipson was only released from prison in March on 33 previous felony charges.
