THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunnell, Florida
Thursday, April 15, 1971

 

Mrs. Ida Norine Shamblen Wells, 58, was found dead Thursday evening at her home in St. Johns Park. She was born in Charleston, West Virginia and moved to Flagler County 24 years ago.

She is survived by two daughters: Mrs. Wanda Metkvins, East Palatka, Florida and Mrs. Roberta Buerger, Akron, Ohio.

Graveside services were held in Espanola Cemetery Wednesday afternoon at 2 PM with Reverend Don Foster, pastor of First Baptist Church of Bunnell, officiating.

Craig Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunnell, Florida
Thursday, April 22. 1971

A suspect in the slaying of a Flagler County woman was arrested after Friday after an all-night stakeout by law enforcement officials at a Deerfield boarding house where he was staying.

According to Flagler County Sherriff P. A. Edmonson, Arnold C. Nugent, 45, Toronto, was arrested after tips led Sheriff’s Deputies to the Deerfield Beach boarding house.

Edmonson said a number of Flagler County residents had seen Nugent with Mrs. Norina Wells, 58, the murdered woman, March 30 in a Bunnell bar.

“Nugent, it seems, was on a trip to Deerfield Beach when he had car trouble and had to stop over in Bunnell,” said Edmonson. “He met Mrs. Wells in the bar and apparently went to see her the next night.”

Edmonson added that Nugent was implicated in the shooting death of Mrs. Wells during a struggle at her home March 31, who was shot with her own gun, he added.

According to police reports, the body of the woman wasn’t discovered until April 11 when a newspaper carrier became suspicious from newspapers and mail piled up at her home about 14 miles west of Bunnell.

Edmonson said that a gun believed to be the murder weapon was found in a drainage canal near Fort Pierce. Nugent told deputies he threw the fun into the canal the morning of April 1 along with a television from Mrs. Well’s home.

Nugent has been charged with first degree murder and is being held in the Flagler County jail.