TAFT, Fla. — Investigators are interviewing two persons of interest after an 81-year-old man was fatally stabbed Saturday night at his Taft home, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.
Firefighters found Julian Gresham's body at 9:45 p.m. during a well-being check at his mobile home on 3rd Street, said OCSO Capt. Angelo Nieves.
Julian Gresham’s daughter, 45-year-old Tessie Gresham, and her boyfriend, 53-year-old David Buchan, were named persons of interest in connection with the fatal stabbing, Nieves said.
"He moved his daughter and her boyfriend in because they were not going to have a place to stay," said Clarence Fenderberk, neighbor.
The couple was committed under the Baker Act around 10:30 a.m. but deputies did not realize the couple were persons of interest until Sunday evening, Nieves said.
Julian Gresham’s beige 2006 Ford Taurus with Florida tag SKM3U is unaccounted for, investigators said.
“It is believed that the victim’s firearm may be in the vehicle,” Nieves said.
While Tessie Gresham has no criminal record, Buchan does.
He was convicted of burglary, aggravated battery and theft in the 90s.
In 2007, he was charged with second degree murder of his mother, but found not guilty by reason of insanity.
In a 2012 letter to the judge overseeing Buchan's murder case, Buchan's sister wrote that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 14.
He was hearing voices when he stabbed his mother 23 times, his sister wrote.
Anyone who spots the couple or the car is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office or Crimeline at 407-423-8477.
Cox Media Group
