From: jcs
On August 5th, 2017, Leroy Daugherty, 28, a manager and head chef at the Bonefish Grill where Savannah Gold worked, was arrested during his shift by police [00:04:52]. While the ostensible reason for his arrest was an outstanding traffic warrant, the true intention was to interrogate him regarding Savannah’s disappearance [00:04:58]. This arrest marked the beginning of a crucial interrogation process that would ultimately lead to a confession and reveal the gruesome details of Savannah Gold’s murder.
The Interrogation Process
Upon arrival at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) Police Department, Daugherty was left alone for 90 minutes [00:05:20]. This deliberate isolation was a tactic to induce anxiety and allow him to contemplate his situation [00:05:22]. His growing unease intensified when Detective Rae Reeves, the same investigator who had previously interviewed him about Savannah, entered the room [00:06:09]. This confirmed Daugherty’s suspicion that his situation was far more serious than a traffic warrant [00:06:21].
The interrogation began with an open-ended question about his relationship with Savannah [00:08:46]. Daugherty provided a lengthy and detailed response, admitting to an on-and-off relationship with Savannah for the past eight months, despite it being against company policy [00:09:52]. He also claimed they both used drugs, and that Savannah had become heavily involved with heroin, which led him to distance himself [00:10:33]. He then stated that the last contact he had with her was a text message three weeks prior, in which she said she would delete his number and never text him again [00:12:58].
Shifting Alibis
However, confronted by the detective about his previous statement, Daugherty conceded that he had not been truthful and admitted to seeing Savannah on Wednesday afternoon [00:13:37]. He claimed that Savannah was spreading rumors at work about their sexual relationship, which could jeopardize his job [00:14:07]. He then fabricated a story:
- Savannah pulled into the parking lot after him [00:14:40].
- She then asked to sit in his car because she had used heroin and was feeling paranoid [00:15:06].
- They had an argument, and she became angry, threatening to continue spreading lies [00:16:10].
- Daugherty stated that Savannah then got out of his car with her phone, walked towards the main entrance, and got into a green Ford pickup truck [00:16:46].
The detective, aware of the surveillance footage, allowed Daugherty to elaborate on his fabricated story, feigning belief to lower his guard [00:18:00].
Confrontation and Revelation
The first direct confrontation occurred when the detective abruptly asked, “Where’s Savannah right now?” [00:22:55]. Daugherty’s composed response, “I don’t know,” indicated he was anticipating such a direct accusation [00:23:25]. The detectives continued to press him, appealing to his morality and emphasizing the family’s right to know what happened [00:24:00].
The interrogation intensified as the female detective revealed the crucial piece of evidence: the surveillance footage [00:26:21]. She informed Daugherty that the video showed Savannah never got out of his car [00:26:21]. She highlighted the struggle observed in the car, stating, “She kept kickin’ that door three times, Lee, she kicked it. We saw it” [00:32:18]. The detective then pressed him on whether Savannah had overdosed, attempting to offer a morally acceptable alternative for what happened [00:27:30].
Ultimately, Daugherty amended his story, admitting that he went to his house with Savannah in the car [00:31:42]. The interrogation footage ends shortly after this point [00:33:13].
The Confession and Crime Details
Leroy Daugherty admitted to killing Savannah Gold [00:33:23]. He claimed to have killed her by breaking her neck [00:33:29]. After the murder, he took her body back to his house, where he burned it in a self-made fire pit [00:33:32]. He then disposed of her remains in a lake at the dead end of a secluded road [00:33:36].
The medical examiner determined that Savannah had injuries to over 75% of her body [00:33:40]. Due to the extent of the damage, the exact cause of death could not be pinpointed, but the conclusion was a violent homicide [00:33:43].
Footage released by the JSO showed Daugherty moments after his confession, experiencing an overwhelming emotional reckoning [00:34:04].
Legal Consequences
Daugherty was remanded into custody at the Duval County Jail and denied bond [00:39:00]. Despite the overwhelming evidence and the prospect of life in prison without parole, he pleaded not guilty [00:39:06].
His defense was that Savannah’s killing was an act of self-defense [00:39:12]. Daugherty, who stood at 5 foot 11 and weighed 163 pounds, claimed he feared for his life after Savannah, who was 5 feet tall and weighed 91 pounds, slapped him multiple times [00:39:14]. He stated that he grabbed her neck, felt a pop, and accidentally broke it, resulting in her death [00:39:27].
The State Attorney’s Office made no comment on this motion, only stating that the trial was expected to commence during the summer of 2020 [00:39:34].