Chase Found Guilty of Attempted Murder, Domestic Battery, Other Crimes

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Richard Chase Jr. guilty of one count of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, one count of Attempted Manslaughter with a Weapon, and one count of Domestic Battery. With the verdict, Chase faces up to life in Florida State Prison and will serve a minimum mandatory of 30 years as a Prison Release Reoffender and Habitual Violent Felony Offender. The Honorable Anthony Salem will formally sentence Chase at a later date.

Just before midnight Sept. 1, 2023, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrived at a Clearsky Drive home after being alerted to a stabbing. Officers found three victims — a mother and two adult children — with injuries. The two adult children were both stabbed numerous times. Their mother showed signs of physical abuse and told police Chase assaulted her earlier in the evening in her bedroom. The incident was loud and alerted her two adult children, who went into the room to find out what was happening. When they confronted Chase, he pulled out a knife and began stabbing the adult male victim before stabbing his sister several times. The three victims eventually were able to leave the house, and Chase drove away from the scene. Police put out an alert for Chase and, a short time later, he was pulled over during a traffic stop and arrested.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Kelli Shobe and Jessica Russell.