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The comment shown in this snippet from the Volusia County Sheriff's arrest report was made by accused killer Jesus Morales as he was being taken into custody Monday in the gunshot slaying of former girlfriend Heidi Lynn Shelmire at the DeBary Burger King. .jpg)
DEBARY -- No court order was going to keep Jesus Morales from gunning down his former girlfriend, Heidi Lynn Shelmire, whom authorities said he shot in cold blood Monday morning at the Burger King where she worked, uttering to a deputy after his capture in nearby woods: "I've been picturing in my mind for six months about blowing that bitch's head off."
As cold and calculating as that sounds, the 41-year-old Morales, may very well have set himself up as a prime candidate for the death penalty, even before being returned to jail, this time on charges of first-degree pre-meditated murder and stalking.
NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / The Burger King in DeBary remains closed Monday after the mid-morning slaying of Heidi Lynn Shelmire, working behind the counter when she was shot to death by her ex-boyfriend, who hopped the counter and fired several more shots while standing over her, Sheriff's deputies said, later charging Jesus Morales with first-degree pre-meditated murder and stalking. Despite a standing court order of protection, Morales shot and killed her just 17 days after his jail release, according to charging documents.It goes without saying that Morales is innocent up to or until proven guilty in a court of law. It could be days or weeks before State Attorney R.J. Larizza considers seeking the death penalty, but he can't do that until the Volusia County grand jury convenes to consider handing up a capital murder indictment.
What is certain is Shelmire, 38, was shot while at the service counter and then her killer hopped over and unloaded several more rounds into her. While she lay bleeding to death, the gunman ran off and tried to hide in the woods.
What is certain is Shelmire, 38, was shot while at the service counter and then her killer hopped over and unloaded several more rounds into her. While she lay bleeding to death, the gunman ran off and tried to hide in the woods.
And despite an order of protection granted in April, Shelmire could only keep him at bay for so long before this overly possessive ex made good on his promise just 17 days after his release from jail on a prior stalking charge to take her life away.
The two had been dating on and off for about two years and even lived together at one point, according to an order of protection petition the victim filled out and signed in April eventually leading to his arrest. In her affidavit, Shelmire described Morales as possessive and physically abusive to her 6-year-old daughter, even choking her.
During one of his angry rants, Morales threw the little girl's TV into the yard, shattering it and even referring to the child as "Satan," according to her petition for protection. Morales had been released Sept 9 and all that stood between them was a legal piece of paper.
During one of his angry rants, Morales threw the little girl's TV into the yard, shattering it and even referring to the child as "Satan," according to her petition for protection. Morales had been released Sept 9 and all that stood between them was a legal piece of paper.
And for all of his self-deprecating statements in her petition application about not wanting to live and threatening to kill himself, when he was alone in the woods after the slaying and had the chance to take his own life, Morales ditched the gun and surrendered without incident. He waived his Miranda rights and confessed to the killing, Sheriff's investigators said.
While Morales sheepishly surrendered, Shelmire lay dead on a hospital gurney, her child without a mother and horrible memories of a mean man who turned out to be a monster.
While Morales sheepishly surrendered, Shelmire lay dead on a hospital gurney, her child without a mother and horrible memories of a mean man who turned out to be a monster.