Murder suspect knew victim had obtained Oxycotin day before her murder

DeFuniak Springs, Fla. -- Jeffrey Allen Yates was ordered held without bond on an open count of murder during his first court appearance in DeFuniak Springs.  The 41-year-old suspect also faces a separate, misdemeanor charge of Petit Theft and a felony Grand Theft Larceny.

On the morning of Aug. 17, a caregiver found Elizabeth Andrews inside her State Highway 83N home, located just south of the Gaskin Community, several miles from the Alabama state line.

The investigation revealed that the victim had been struck with an unknown object, and was shot. The victim’s firearm and vehicle were missing from the home.

The Walton County Sheriff’s investigation further indicates that the victim recently had prescriptions filled for Oxycotin, a highly addictive pain killer. No bottles of the prescription were found in Andrews home, and the suspect knew that the victim had the medication.

The investigation reveals that Yates was seen walking south beside the road toward the victim’s home the day before her body was discovered. He was an acquaintance who had done odd jobs around the victim’s home.

Last Thursday night, Yates was spotted by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputies driving the victim’s pick-up truck north of Laurel Hill. He was pulled over without incident, and jailed in Crestview before being transported to the Walton County Jail on Sunday night.

The Grand Theft stems from the taking of Mrs. Andrews’ pick-up truck. Bond was set at 10-thousand dollars. The misdemeanor petit theft is unrelated to the Andrews’ murder, and stems from an outstanding warrant on the theft of a checkbook last May. Bond on the charge is $1,000.