The small community of Providence in Union County was shaken Tuesday by a double murder that led to a pursuit on Interstate 75 in Paynes Prairie.
Authorities confirmed that Candace Joseph, 43, of Lake Butler, and a 47-year-old woman from Texas were found dead off Southwest County Road 241. Investigators say Jason Holton, 47, of Lake Butler, shot Joseph, his estranged girlfriend of 13 years, and the other woman, who was helping Joseph move out. Family members were present at the scene during the incident.
Following the shootings, Holton fled in a Ford pickup truck. Law enforcement later spotted the vehicle traveling south on I-75 in Alachua County. Authorities temporarily closed the interstate and used a PIT maneuver to stop Holton’s truck. SWAT officers approached the vehicle and found Holton deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Union County Sheriff Brad Whitehead expressed condolences to the families, noting the tragic impact on children and loved ones. Alachua County Sheriff Chad Scott praised the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol, High Springs Police Department, Alachua Police Department, and Gainesville Police Department, for ensuring the situation did not escalate further.
