Suspect in double murder case taken into custody

HOLMES COUNTY, Florida (VMBB) – Bonifay police say they now have a double murder suspect in custody. On Monday morning, members of the U.S. Marshal’s task force arrested 26-year-old Bonifay resident Jesse Raby.

They say they found Rabi sleeping in the back bedroom of his home. Authorities say they expected to find Jesse Raby somewhere nearby. At 7:00 a.m. Monday, they lived up to their expectations.

Person involved in double murder case in custody

“He made no attempt to hide or hide inside the house or block the window so that he could not be seen from inside. So I think he’s tired. He was tired and this was the only place he could go and not run into anyone but himself,” Bonifaya Police Chief Johnny Whitaker said.

Raby is being held in the Holmes County Jail on two counts of second-degree murder. Whitaker believes he killed his mother and brother at home sometime late Friday night or Saturday morning.

When the 59-year-old woman did not show up for work, some of her colleagues demanded a medical examination. The piano blocked the front door. Police checked the outside of the house and saw a body in the window.

Inside they found Rabi’s 59-year-old mother and 29-year-old brother dead. Florida Department of Law Enforcement forensics experts collected evidence from the scene and assisted in interviewing Raby.

“We were able to interview him this morning and contacted the state attorney’s office and let them know what we were doing. FDLE attended the interview this morning,” Whitaker said.

Whitaker says this isn’t a case you see every day.

“It’s not every day that a young man takes the life of his mother and brother. So we take this very seriously. And we need to get answers for the family,” Whitaker said.

Bonifay police continue to search for a suspect in a double murder case

The medical examiner’s office is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Rabi is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for a bail hearing.

“Not only am I confident that we have the right person, I am confident in the prosecutor’s office. This matter will go to trial or trial. And I feel like we’re going to get a good prosecution,” Whitaker added.

Whitaker says they don’t have a motive yet, but notes the family is being evicted from their home.

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