By Stephen Kindland

Staff writer

MIDDLEBURG – Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating what they believe was a murder-suicide in the Greenwood subdivision in which a man killed his daughter on her 23rd birthday.

Sgt. Wayne McKinney said one of two other siblings living at 2709 Tina Lane discovered the body of Andrea Langevin in her bedroom early Friday morning, Jan. 15. The body of the father, 51-year-old Dennis Langevin, was discovered in a neighbor’s backyard a short time later, McKinney said.

He said it appears that the father, who was employed at the Country Club of Orange Park, used a shotgun to kill his daughter before turning the gun on himself.

“It happened either yesterday afternoon or early this morning,” McKinney said.

He said the mother of the children, Julia Langevin, is believed to have moved out of the home after she and her husband began having marital problems.

The apparent murder-suicide is similar to an incident that occurred two months ago on Fleming Island, where Jerry Whitlelaw shot and killed his two children, 11-year-old Katie and 16-year-old Kevin, as they slept in their beds before taking his own life.

If ruled a murder-suicide, Friday’s incident would become the 12th homicide in Clay County in less than a year. Eleven murders were committed in 2009, along with a shooting death involving Sheriff’s Office deputy that likely will be ruled a justifiable homicide. The 11 homicides compare to five murders committed during each of the two previous years.       

Neighbors in the Greenville subdivision where the victim lived with her father, a younger sister and a younger brother said they were shocked as news began to spread throughout the neighborhood.

“I didn’t hear any gunshots,” 26-year-old Steve Mabey said. “It’s really sad.”

He also said he couldn’t believe Dennis Langevin was capable of shooting someone.

“Knowing her dad, he wouldn’t hurt the hair on a fly,” Mabey said.

Ulysses Jones said Friday was Andrea’s birthday, and that her boyfriend was on his way over to bring her flowers. The boyfriend could be seen inside his parked car on a street near the victim’s home, visibly upset while talking on a cell phone before police escorted him to a detective’s car.

A bouquet of flowers was left in the front seat.

Mabey’s 21-year-old sister, Danielle, said she knew Andrea from her days at Ridgeview High School, and always thought she was “a sweet girl.”

“She was always with her little sister,” she said. “She was always there for her. She was a great person.”

Another neighbor said she thinks the two deaths are linked to the recession, which she believes has created a great deal of depression, fear and anxiety.

“People are getting desperate,” Barbara Koranda said. “They’re getting financially desperate. This used to be stuff you only heard about in Jacksonville.”

Sgt. McKinney said the bodies were taken to the Duval County Medical Examiner’s Office, and that autopsies will be performed before a final ruling is made in the case.

A news release sent out by Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Mary Justino said investigators are not looking for any suspects.

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