A Texas man is in jail after driving 1,200 miles to his grandparents’ home in Florida and murdering them, before “sobbing uncontrollably” when cops found him and telling them that “God told him to send his grandparents to him,” according to authorities.
Jeremyah Campbell, 22, is accused of two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of George White, 83, and his wife, Mary White, 81.
Around 8:45 p.m. on July 23, deputies from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting at a home in Melbourne’s 2500 block of Washington Street. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, George White ran to his neighbor’s house and knocked on the door, begging them to dial 911.
The neighbor opened the door and let George White in, then called 911 when she heard gunshots through her door, according to the affidavit. George White was shot in the chest, and the neighbor’s 25-year-old granddaughter was also injured by gunfire. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, where he died. The neighbor’s granddaughter sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Cops then entered the White home and discovered Mary White in a breezeway, shot in the face and hand. She was pronounced dead.
While investigating, deputies observed a man later identified as Campbell walking in the area. He was “sobbing uncontrollably and shouting a stream of incoherent words,” according to police. Deputies approached him, and he yelled that he wanted his Porsche. He was eventually taken into custody.
While in the back of the police car, he allegedly yelled, “‘God’ told him to send his grandparents to him.” He then identified George White as his grandfather, according to the affidavit.
Later, he allegedly said to detectives, “Now Satan sees.” I am a valuable man in the Kingdom.” He also stated that his grandfather was “going to take my butt.” “My manhood,” according to cops. He declined to speak further with investigators who have not publicly disclosed their motive.
Campbell had recently driven from McKinney, Texas, to see his grandparents in Melbourne, Florida. He remains in the Brevard County Jail without bond. His next court date is scheduled for August 21.
As Law&Crime previously reported, neighbor Terry French told local NBC affiliate WESH about what allegedly happened and how George White was desperately trying to get his help before being shot.
“George was standing here inside the door, and we had it locked so nobody could get in,” French remarked. “Somebody over in this area, I think, had a 9-millimeter, and he put these holes in the door,” he claimed, noting that George was shot inside French’s home. “He went in the bathroom … shut the door, and that was it.”
Neighbors described the situation as terrifying in interviews with WESH, with nearly a half-dozen gunshots heard at one point.
“Five gunshots, a pause, and then the last one,” resident Shea Stewart stated. “Then, I heard the scream of a woman.”
French people remembered the victims fondly.
“I’ve known George (and Mary) for 30 years… “One of the best neighbors I’ve ever had,” French told WESH. “He’d do anything for you.”
