Live Oak man charged with second-degree murder, burglary and child abuse

LIVE OAK, Fla. (WCJB) – Officials with the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) have filed additional charges, including manslaughter, against a man they say was originally arrested earlier this year for a probation violation.

Leroy Duval Jr., 60, of Live Oak was arrested on March 3 for violating his probation. He was booked into the Suwannee County Jail the same day and remained there. However, officers with the Live Oak Police Department (LOPD) said they responded to an incident on March 2 and detained Duval Jr. as a suspect.

LOPD officers said they responded to an unattended toddler reported at the Dalton Place Apartments near Lake Mary around 3 p.m. on March 2.

When authorities arrived at the child's apartment, they found 30-year-old Blake Reaves lying on the floor with serious injuries. Suwannee County paramedics pronounced Reaves dead at the scene and LOPD officials believe foul play was involved.

LOPD officials said they worked with the Third District Attorney's Office Investigative Unit to collect evidence and eyewitness statements and conduct an on-scene investigation that led to Duval Jr. being named as a person of interest in the case. Authorities said Duval Jr. lived in the same apartment complex in room 8B.

Although Duval Jr. was arrested the next day on other charges, LOPD officials said they had re-arrested and charged Duval Jr. on the new charges, which include murder, burglary and child abuse.

He is still being held without bail in the Suwannee County Jail.

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