Charles Quaintance III, a 38-year-old male from Jacksonville, FL, was found dead on December 19, 2017. His body was discovered behind a vehicle in the parking lot of the Days Inn motel on Dix Ellis Trail, south of Baymeadows Road, around 4 a.m. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Quaintance, who had a history of legal troubles, was previously involved in a high-profile case.
In 2001, he was one of Jacksonville's most-wanted suspects for the death of 22-year-old Kenyatte Sykes. Quaintance pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Sykes' shooting, which was drug-related, and served a prison sentence before being released early. Over the years, he also had several drug-related arrests.
On the day of his death, Quaintance was shot, and the investigation led to the arrest of 37-year-old Nicholus Marquette Mitchell. Mitchell, whose last known address was on West Third Street, was charged with murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and carrying a concealed weapon. The motive behind the shooting was unclear, and investigators were looking for additional witnesses and leads to determine whether it was a robbery or a dispute.
The case drew attention due to Quaintance's criminal past and the circumstances of his death. Surveillance video from the motel was being reviewed by investigators, but no clear motive had been established at the time. The investigation continued as authorities sought more information and witnesses to piece together the events leading up to Quaintance's death.
