Police say Winthrop Deforest is charged with attempted murder in the second degree.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Authorities have apprehended a man in relation to an attempted murder incident at a hotel in Jacksonville, as reported by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect, 41-year-old Winthrop Deforest, was already in custody at the Clay County Jail before being transferred to the pre-trial detention center located in Downtown Jacksonville on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
On May 5, 2025, officers from JSO responded to a shooting incident at the Red Roof Inn on the city’s Northside. Upon their arrival, they discovered a woman in her 20s with a gunshot wound. She was promptly taken to the hospital where she managed to survive her injuries.
Sgt. Mitlyng from JSO stated in May, “The initial investigation indicates that the suspect and the victim were in one of the hotel rooms when an argument broke out, leading to the victim being shot.”
According to the police report, the victim had been engaging in prostitution at the hotel and had met Deforest there. She informed the police that he became angry over the payment he provided her prior to the incident. She also mentioned that Deforest might have been under the influence of a substance known as “ice” and that there had been no sexual interaction between them.
Deforest faces charges of second-degree attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The investigation also uncovered that he had previously faced charges involving an armed robbery in Miami-Dade and trespassing in Clay County. His bond is presently set at $1,100,006.
