Northwest Florida authorities have arrested a man on suspicion of murder in the death of a former Marshall County resident.
Stephen Anthony Taylor, 36, of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., was arrested and charged with first-degree premeditated murder, grand theft auto and burglary, in the Sunday night death of 38-year-old Sandra “Sandy” Graves at her home in DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
Graves was a former resident of Marshall County and 1997 graduate of Marshall County High School. She had three children, who were not home at the time of the incident.
According to police reports, officers were dispatched about 6:16 p.m. Monday, June 26 to 57 N. 10th St. in DeFuniak Springs to conduct a welfare check after a woman called 911 to report that Taylor had texted her husband several times confessing to a murder at the home and to possessing a knife that he allegedly used to kill the victim.
Police initiated contact with the landlord of the property to gain entry when several attempts to make contact with the resident went unanswered.
Officers discovered Graves’ body in a bedroom of the home upon entry.
Police secured the scene and issued a BOLO for Graves’ silver 2010 Chevy Malibu – which was not at the home when officers arrived – and Taylor’s physical description.
According to police reports, Walton County Florida sheriff’s deputies received information about 8:11 p.m. Monday that Graves’ vehicle was parked at a Burger King in DeFuniak Springs. Deputies responded to the restaurant and located Taylor inside. He was arrested without incident.
Taylor was interviewed and taken to the Walton County Correction Facility, where he was held without bond.
Police reports indicate the incident took place about 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Additional details were not released, pending open investigation.
According to local NBC affiliate WJHG report, Graves and Taylor were acquainted; Graves had called police on several occasions to report that Taylor had been harassing her, prompting officers to issue a trespassing warning. Taylor was previously arrested in unrelated incidents and charged with aggravated stalking, battery and petty theft, according to WJHG reports.
Funeral arrangements for Graves were unavailable as of Tuesday.