FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A Palm Coast man has been arrested after taking the ashes of a woman’s late son, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
In a release, deputies said they caught the man — identified as Justin Fountain, 31 — on Saturday as he was GPS-tracking and following the woman around the county.
Per investigators, the victim reported that she’d met Fountain through a dating app, but he’d become “increasingly controlling and aggressive,” going so far as to steal her child’s ashes despite her asking him to stop contacting her.
Deputies: Tracking, threats and unwanted encounters
The victim told deputies she cut off contact with Fountain, but he later showed up uninvited at her workplace, authorities said. When she returned to the hotel she had been staying at, she saw Fountain’s vehicle in the parking lot, according to the report.
Investigators said the victim left to meet a friend at Culver’s — but Fountain allegedly followed and tried to talk to her there, too. The victim again told him to leave her alone, deputies said.
Alleged account access and intimidation
According to the sheriff’s office, the victim later went to Flagler Beach to get away, but began receiving alerts that someone had signed into her social media accounts. She told deputies she did not give Fountain permission to access her accounts and believed he gained access while she was sleeping.
Deputies said Fountain also texted threats meant to keep her from contacting law enforcement, including claims she could be arrested on a warrant if she called police. Other messages included:
- “You need to answer my calls if you know what’s good for you”
- “I’m going to destroy you”
Victim says ashes were taken — and threatened
Authorities said Fountain sent messages claiming he had stolen a teddy bear that contained the victim’s sons’ ashes and threatened to burn it if she kept ignoring him.
Traffic stop leads to arrest, deputies say
Using investigative methods, deputies located Fountain traveling north on Interstate 95 and conducted a traffic stop. Fountain said he was driving to Georgia, according to the sheriff’s office.
[RELATED: Watch body-camera footage of the arrest below]
During a search of the vehicle, deputies said they found the stolen teddy bear containing the ashes. The item was later returned to the victim.
“I commend the victim for coming forward despite this stalker’s threats,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Be extremely careful who you give access to your life. Your cell phone, laptop and residence hold banking info, social media accounts, and cherished memories. Evil, jealous and cruel men like Fountain will use anything to control their victims, including extorting them with their most personal and emotional memories.”
Charges filed
Fountain was arrested and now faces the following charges:
- Aggravated stalking
- Extortion
- Hindering communication with law enforcement
- Unauthorized installation of a tracking device
- Access to an electronic device without authority
Deputies transported Fountain to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is held on bond of $61,000.