No bond for Fla. man accused of killing estranged wife, friend
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- A man accused of killing his estranged wife and her best friend in St. Augustine, Florida has made his first appearance before a Florida judge after he was arrested last month in Virginia, reports CBS affiliate WJAX.
James Colley faces two counts of first-degree murder, burglary while armed and aggravated stalking after injunction, reports the station. He reportedly appeared in court shackled and showed little emotion as a St. John's County judge ordered him held without bond.
The 35-year-old Colley was arrested on suspicion of murder and driving under the influence Aug. 27 after a traffic stop in Norton, Virginia, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said.
Killed were Colley's estranged wife, 36-year-old Amanda Colley, and her friend, 39-year-old Lindy Dobbins of western New York.
Witnesses told detectives that Colley shot the two womenat a house in St. Augustine, and then fled. Friends told WJAX that Dobbins had gone to the home, where the couple once lived together, to offer support to her friend.
Court records show that Colley earlier that day was found to be in violation of a protective order meant to keep him away from his wife.
Court records show that a domestic violence case was filed against Colley in July.
Neighbors told the Florida Times Union that James Colley has been unstable for months and has bragged in the past about having guns in his house.
According to the paper, Amanda Colley requested the protective order when she came home from a weekend away to find her clothes burned in the backyard.
James Colley allegedly entered her family's home to "search for her," threw a purse at her, threatened to kill her dog and stole her medication, the paper reports, citing the court order.
"He has threatened to 'cut' her if he caught her cheating," the order reads.
Dobbins was a mother of three. Amanda Colley and James Colley had two young children who are in the care of relatives, reports the St. Augustine Record.