Police identify burned bodies

St. Petersburg Police and Forensic Services examine a SUV containing two burned bodies. The interior of the SUV was also burned. [Martha Rial | Times]

ST. PETERSBURG -- The two burned bodies found by police this morning have been identified as Jabar McNair, left, 26, and Mishell McDaniel, 19, both of St. Petersburg.

Police detectives were investigating the double homicide after discovering the two bodies inside a burned SUV behind a hair salon in the Tyrone Gardens shopping center this morning.

An employee at the shopping center called police this morning about the car, described as a red Ford Expedition parked near a Dumpster behind Lorraine's Hairstyling Academy, 1012 58th St. N.

The caller said a bullet hole appeared to be in a passenger-side window and blood on the same side of the vehicle. Patrol officers arrived at 8:12 a.m. and discovered two burned bodies inside the vehicle. Police said there was a bullet hole in the driver's side window of the late-model Ford Expedition.

The victims were shot in the area of Fifth Avenue S and 45th Street late in the afternoon Thursday, according to reports. They were then driven to the shopping center where they were found.

Once there, the interior of the vehicle was set on fire, according to reports. McDaniel was pregnant, according to her mother.

Detectives are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information to call (727) 893-7780 or the anonymous tip line at (727) 892-5000.

- Nicole Hutcheson, Times staff writer

[Photograph of victim courtesy of St. Petersburg Police Department]

Comments

[Get-Smart]

We need a law and order mayor!

[CJ]

Get-Smart, what does a law and order mayor have to do with this article?

We need law and order, period!!

We need more money for that, not the mayors fault directly, you want to place blame, start at the top, President Bush and all his GOP money grubbers, this government wants law and order everywhere but home where it counts.

[Reality]

CJ, are you serious? It's Bush's fault that two people got murdered. Great logic. Maybe its all the thugs that live in St. Pete. Did bush put them there? I guess its always somebody's elses fault. Not that the person that did it.

We need stiffer penalties. IT's always repeat offenders commiting the crimes.

[Get Real]

Reality, are you serious?!?!?!
You think St. Pete is the only place "thugs" live? Try crawling out from under your rock and face life.....this is a much bigger problem then St. Pete.

[CJ]

Reality... did you read and comprehend what I wrote?

It starts at the top, and Bush is at the top.
"We need stiffer penalties" well my friend, that costs money, funding has been cut so we can make the rest of the world better while our country is going down the toilet.
"IT's always repeat offenders committing the crimes." Always is a pretty big word, think about that before you use it, I can think of many crimes lately that were done by first time offenders.

you need a Reality check.

[father]

What we really need is for Sharpton and Jackson to talk some sense into these people.

[justme]

Should be interesting as this story unfolds. But they were both just babies. It's amazing the amount of crime in Pinellas County these days. Very sad, it used to be such a safe place. Just wish the cops would take the streets back but SPPD isn't allowed to. Maybe our Mayor and Police chief (ha!) will grow some b***s and get this place back to our safe community. Take no crap!!

[Dave]

Keep your south side trash off the north side!!!

[Dave]

Keep your south side trash out of the north side!!!

[Michelle]

Yea keep your trash outa here!!!

You guys are funny.

[so sad]

its really sad to read comments like, keep your south side trash off the north side. Do you think you're better than someone because you live on the northside??? Don't get it twisted the Tyrone Gardens area is not any place to brag about, and what makes you think these VICTIMS were from the southside, is it because they are African-Americam??? It saddens me how IGNORANT YOU PEOPLE ARE. Get real people we're about to have an AFRICAN AMERICAN President. DEAL WITH IT, we taking over 1 city at a time

[My prayers are with you]

to the families of both Jabar & Mishell, I am deeply sorry for your loss. Jabar & my sister were really good friends & i cant imagine why anyone would want to bring harm to him, he was always very respectful & sweet. To the family of Mishell, I didnt know her but my thoughts & prayers are with you. I too loss a relative just 2 years ago while she was only 22 years old. All I can say is I'm very sorry

[Get Real]

Dave and Michelle,
People like you are the reasons that we have issue like this....Please understand this is a much bigger issue then North side vs South side!

[tom]

Hey CJ,
Hows come u libs NEVER EVER take into account the person(s) responsible. U are in denial my friend. All of you irrelevant Bush Haters cannot think your way out of a paper bag.

[shan]

thisis a sad situation people are always thinking that this country is still seperated by color everyone was created by the same greator people you are insane if god and jesus could come down to earth right now and witness what you wrote the would be upset it hurts to know that 2 people were murdered and all you guys can think about is the color of someones skin it makes you think where is your heart

[diana]

This comment page isn't for you to talk garbage back and forth on, it's not for arguments. Lets act like adults and show respect instead of being rude and acting uneducated. These two people didn't ask to die and the one(s) that did this should be put in prison for life with no parole.

[Can happen anywhere]

This tragedy can happen anywhere, at anytime. I feel very sad for these victim's familys. Unfortunately these crimes usually go hand in hand with drug abuse and drug distribution. The city of Saint Petersburg has definitely seen a steep decline in safety, all over, not just in the south part of the city.

[Dave]

I highly doubt I am the reason that we have problems like this. The guy has been arrested at least twice for possession of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine. The reason I said keep your trash off the north side is because the south side tends to have the predominate amount of crime in this county. I never said anything about race.

[Dave]

Diana if you don't have anything constructive to say, keep your mouth shut. This forum is for response to news articles whether negative or positive. Ever hear of free speach? Maybe you need the education.

[Rastaman]

maybe we all need to just chill and smoke a spliff together. diana is all worried about someone she doesn't even know, and dave seems to be making rude comments. Everyone just chill and smoke up.

[George Washington Carver]

The "Messiah" Hussein Obama will talk some sense into his fellow druggie colored's.

Just as soon as he is elected.

SOME OF THESE COMMENTS ARE VERY DISRESPECTFUL ESPECIALLY TO THE FAMILY OF THESE VICTIMS CAUSE IT COULD VERY WELLBE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN THE SAME SITUATION SHOW SOME RESPECT AND ACT YOUR AGE AND NOT YOU SHOE SIZE GROW UP PEOPLE CRIME IS EVERYWHERE IN RICH AND POOR NEIGHBORHOODS YOU JUST DONT HEAR ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON THE RICH SIDE UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE WITH A LIL MONEY DRUGS ARE EVERYWHERE

[Clara Johnson]

Hopefully there are cameras at the shopping center to catch the cowardsthat commited this triple murder (baby makes three.)

[Concerned]

God rest their souls. A sad way to end three lives. My condolences to their families. I hope they catch the perpetrators. No matter what the circumstances it is very sad to hear of such violence in our city.

[KEEPIN IT REAL]

TALKING ABOUT KEEPING SOUTHSIDE TRASH FROM THE NORTHSIDE, LETS KEEP THE NORTHSIDE DRUG ADDICTS ON THEIR SIDE LOOKING FOR THEIR FIX, INSTEAD OF THEM DRIVING ALL OVER THE CITY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING.....
MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES, NOBODY DESERVES TO DIE LIKE THAT, NOR BE JUDGED IF YOU ARE NOT GOD & WE KNOW YOU ARE NOT WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE SOMEONE ELSES PAST....

[KEEPIN IT REAL]

TO THE SO CALLED GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER WIMP, GET A LIFE GET SOME EDUCATION, OR MAYBE YOU AND YOUR IGNORANCE SHOULD RUN FOR PRESIDENT...LOL!!!

[nia]

I read all the comments and I'm just outraged that such ignorance is still so prevelant in 2008!
Jabar was my friend! We went to high school together!
We dated briefly he was a great man!
Great men make mistakes but they are still great!
God bless his family!

To the family of the young lady my heart and prayers are with you!

[nia]

I read all the comments and I'm just outraged that such ignorance is still so prevelant in 2008!
Jabar was my friend! We went to high school together!
We dated briefly he was a great man!
Great men make mistakes but they are still great!
God bless his family!

To the family of the young lady my heart and prayers are with you!

[U can find me in the]

George Washington Carver(very funny) evidently you didnt hear me when i said "WE TAKING OVER 1 CITY AT A TIME", I wonder what your thoughts will be when that Messiah is your president. you sound like a man upset that either his wife was messing around with a black man or his daughter probably getting tossed around by a few of our good men as we speak. This shouldn't even have to be about race, but YOU PEOPLE always have to go there. Just get over it, we're not going anywhere, were people just like you, we live in nice houses in nice neighborhoos. We drive nice cars and have good jobs. We graduate from high school and college, we get married and have children just like you do, so what makes you think you're better than US? I bet you wouldn't say that to the face of a black man now would you? R.I.P Jabar, you were always a sweetheart, and whatever the streets say you did, I know you didnt do anything to deserve what happened to you and your family. You were robbed of something very beautiful, and I sorry this happened to you. We will miss you.

[Floridian]

My prayers go out the families of both victims. I didn't know Jabar however we have mutual friends. To all of the people with ignorant comments A tragedy has taken place and it can happen to anyone whether you are black, white, old, or young regardless of where you work, live, vacation, or CHILL. When it is your time to go you will go. People need to really stop with the racial innuendos. Ignorance is equally bias as we can see.

[Rose]

I thought these comments are reviewed before being posted - is someone sleeping on the job?

Re: Rose's comment
I think it's important to let the nasty ignorant comments stay where they are - & show just how stupid, pathetic & cruel some people have been.

reality can be ugly, unfortunately

[Tee]

First I want to give my prayers to the families of Jabar and mishelle. Im very disappointed in the comments. What Dave, Michelle, and George fail to realize is that lives have been lost. The ignorance is not suprising to me because I have lived in South st.petersburg all my life before I went to college. I realized how racist st.petersburg really is and I attended Auburn in Alabama, and its more racist St.petersburg then Alabama. How can you say keep your South side trash when their are drug dealers and may I add more pedifials on the Northside. So no side is better then the other just racially divided. Drug deals go on everywhere not just on the southside. George your just ignorant Im not going to comment on that it would be a waste of time. Dave before you question someones intelligence you need to check your own, like your spelling perhaps its speech not speach. This is just a sad sad story I think I went to school with Jabar does anyone know what high school he went to.

[TEE]

One more thing who in the hell still says coloreds its 2008. lmao, rotf seriously.

[another commenter]

I know Jabar and his family for over 15 years. Jabar was not the best person in the world and his death and the manner in which he died are no shock but NO ONE deserves to die ni that manner especially not the innocent girl that was in the car with him. YOUNG GIRLS LEAVE THESE OLD THUGS ALONE. I say that with all respect to the departed.

[A Sympathetic Woman]

It' s sad to see how people have time to post a negative comment and yet not offer any kind words in this time of grief. I knew neither of the victims,but I do take the time to show their family my respect during this time of sorrow. No one deserves to be put to death at the discretion of another human being. My prayers and thought are with both families. These Commenters need to grow up, it's not taken seriously until it hits you family, Put yourselves in their shoes. And someone tell me this why does his past have any refection on what happened to him? So he got arrested, let's look at the bigger picture a life has been lost and the killer is still out there why does the media tend to research the victims past to try and make them look bad.

[Mrs. Davis]

I am deeply sadden by this situation I can't believe how someone could do such a terrible crime and go home and be with their family and eat at home like it's just normal thing and the sad part is no matter if the killer is not found God will take care of them and this kind of silly crime makes me wanna get my permit to carry a firearm because people like this need to be blasted on point. To the men and women out there go and get a firearm to protect yourself and your children when you are out on the streets because people are really losing their minds.Peace

[ms.shell]

THIS IS FOR ALL THE IGNORANT HUMAN BEINGS WHO ACTUALLY HAD THE NERVE TO TALK ABOUT BRINGGING CRIME ON THA NORTHSIDE.WHERE IN THA HELL DO YALL ACTUALLY THINK THE DRUGS COME FROM? YALL.WHO IN THA HELL YOU THINK SMOKE THA MOST? WHITE FOLKS DO. YALL CONTROL THE DRUGS AND WE JUST TRYN TO GET OUR MONEY FROM YALL SO DONT JUDGE US BY OUR COLOR AND RECONIZE 2 PEOPLE WERE MURDERED? WHO KNOWS IT COULD HAVE BEEN A WHITE MAN WHO COMMITED THIS CRIME SO GET THE FACTS STRAIT B4 U PEOPLE JUDGE US.

[Miss.pretty black]

I stay right down the street from where it happen.... My brother girl friend is very sad bout it cause that was her close cousin.... they was good people ... i hope they will find the person who did this cause you just dont take people life like that... thats wrong... god died on the cross for our sins... but people that dont know the lord ... they need to get to know him cause he is our saver....

[Miss.pretty black]

I stay right down the street from where it happen.... My brother girl friend is very sad bout it cause that was her close cousin.... they was good people ... i hope they will find the person who did this cause you just dont take people life like that... thats wrong... god died on the cross for our sins... but people that dont know the lord ... they need to get to know him cause he is our saver....

[Miss.pretty black]

I stay right down the street from where it happen.... My brother girl friend is very sad bout it cause that was her close cousin.... they was good people ... i hope they will find the person who did this cause you just dont take people life like that... thats wrong... god died on the cross for our sins... but people that dont know the lord ... they need to get to know him cause he is our saver....

[BIRDIE]

I THINK ITS UNFORTUNATE TO HAVE YOUR LIFE ENDED JUST AS FAST AS IT BEGUN, ALTHOUGH I WASNT CLOSE WITH NIETHER JABAR OR MISCHELLE NOR JABAR I HAVE FOME ACROSS BOTH OF THEM IN MY LIFTIME... THEN THATS IT? LIVE LIFE LOVE LIFE CAUSE IT CAN BE TAKEN IN A SNAP. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO BOTH FAMILIES

[Bre Bre]

My Prayers are with the family of both victims. May God give the families peace through this time of sorrow. Keep in mind that Jesus is just a prayer away. May God continue to Bless your families. Amen