92-year-old Leesburg woman stabbed to death, dumped in shallow grave over $70, deputies say

LEESBURG, Fla. — Two men were behind bars Monday on charges they killed 92-year-old Rubye James during a robbery and dumped her body in a shallow grave, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.

The amount of money stolen in the deadly robbery was $70, investigators said.

Joshua McClellan, who did yard work for James, and Krystopher Laws, a 21-year-old ex-con, are accused in the robbery and killing.

Investigators said Laws admitted to punching James in the face when she answered the door of her Leesburg home Wednesday.

The suspect claims he and McClellan both stabbed her to death and stole her money so they could buy drugs, the sheriff’s office said

James was reported missing from her home in the 2000 block of Edgewood Road on Wednesday, having last been seen the day before.

When deputies arrived, they found signs of a bloody struggle, sheriff’s office spokesman Lt. John Herrell said.

“There were signs that someone had been dragged throughout the home,” he said. “At that point, they noticed that something had gone awry.”

Later that evening, James’ car was found abandoned about five miles away and her body buried in a shallow grave, investigators said.

McClellan’s mother, Sara Collins, turned in the pair when she learned they’d stolen James’ car, deputies said.

In court Friday, McClellan tearfully declared that he had nothing to do with James’ death.

“Y’all know I love that woman,” he said.

James’ son, Wayne Solomon, believed he saw something behind the man’s tears.

“Scared, and guilty,” he said.

Both men were being held without bond at the Lake County Jail on charges of first-degree premeditated murder and committing a home invasion robbery.

Cox Media Group