Carol Demmons Obituary, Death;- A man entered his ex-girlfriend’s workplace at Golden Corral, doused her with gasoline, and ignited her as she attempted to escape, according to Florida prosecutors. Carol Demmons, aged 56, suffered burns covering over 70% of her body and spent a month hospitalized before succumbing to her injuries, as reported by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.
Her former partner, 67-year-old Darryl Whipple, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the 2016 incident and has been sentenced to life imprisonment, as announced by prosecutors on April 1. This sentence concludes a nearly nine-year legal battle, during which Whipple was deemed incompetent to stand trial for approximately six years, according to Duval County records.
Public defender Al Chipperfield expressed to McClatchy News via email that given Mr. Whipple’s significant mental health issues, the plea agreement was a fair and reasonable resolution to the case. On October 12, 2016, Demmons was working behind the dessert counter at Golden Corral when her ex-boyfriend arrived, as detailed in an arrest report.
Whipple allegedly poured gasoline over her head and produced a lighter while she attempted to flee. He then set her ablaze, activating the restaurant’s fire suppression system, before calmly sitting on a curb to wait for the police, according to law enforcement. Demmons remained hospitalized for nearly a month before passing away on November 8, 2016, due to her injuries.
In August 2016, just two months prior to the incident, Demmons completed a domestic violence assessment in which she indicated that she believed her partner might intentionally kill her. During an altercation that month, Whipple was accused of pushing Demmons onto their bed and assaulting her with a knife. He bit her as she fought to escape until family members intervened, as noted in a Jacksonville police arrest warrant. Records indicate that a warrant for Whipple’s arrest was issued.
