Dawn Yvette Makely, aged 49, was found dead on November 12, 2015, in Ocala, Florida. Her death was part of an apparent murder-suicide involving her longtime boyfriend, Patrick Alan Bline. The Ocala Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Office conducted a joint investigation into the incident. Bline was found dead in a Jeep within the city limits, having died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Inside the vehicle, officers discovered a .380-caliber Colt handgun, which Bline had used to take his own life. Handwritten notes found in the Jeep suggested that something might be wrong with Makely, prompting officers to check their home.
Upon arriving at the residence, officers discovered Makely's body. She had been shot multiple times. The investigation revealed a history of domestic violence between Makely and Bline, although there were no court records documenting these incidents. Makely's mother and sister confirmed that the couple had a tumultuous relationship marked by frequent arguments and physical altercations. The investigation also uncovered that Bline had stayed at a hotel in Tallahassee the night before the incident, and his return to Ocala raised questions that detectives continued to explore.
The case was not immediately closed, as the Marion County Sheriff's Office needed to send information to a statewide board that reviews domestic violence deaths. The investigation aimed to understand the circumstances leading up to the tragic event and to determine if any additional factors contributed to the murder-suicide. The community was left in shock, and the incident highlighted the severe consequences of domestic violence.
