Woodland Boulevard in Downtown DeLand was closed for several hours this morning while police investigated a fatal stabbing that left a trail of blood spanning several blocks along the roadway.
Police said 67-year-old Christine McCaleb, a homeless woman, was stabbed to death in the early-morning hours while she slept on a bench, her head covered by a blanket, in front of the Bank of America at 230 N. Woodland Blvd.
Jared Shaw, 32, a homeless man, was arrested and charged with the killing. Shaw was found in front of the 7-Eleven convenience store at 319 N. Woodland Blvd., bleeding from a neck wound police said was apparently self-inflicted.
The crime closed Woodland Boulevard from Church Street to Pennsylvania Avenue as police processed and decontaminated the scene until about 10 a.m.
According to DeLand Police Chief Jason Umberger, McCaleb was a homeless woman who frequented the Ormond Beach area. She was stabbed two to three times with a knife, he said.
Umberger said Shaw had wandered from the scene several blocks both north and south on Woodland Boulevard, leaving a trail of blood, before being found by a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputy around 3 a.m., Umberger said.
Officers were unable to revive McCaleb.
Shaw’s arrest record includes two arrests for aggravated battery and petit theft, and two trespassing violations. He is currently being treated at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.
According to Umberger, Shaw made statements that indicated he believed the blanket McCaleb was using was his property.
“This appears to be a random violent attack,” Umberger said.
Shaw is charged with first-degree murder.
