Deputies: Father In Jail, Boy Safe After Failed Murder-Suicide POSTED: 6:01 pm EST November 22, 2005 UPDATED: 6:04 pm EST November 22, 2005 ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- A 5-year-old boy is safe after being rescued from a car sinking into Doctors Lake Monday afternoon. The boy's his father is in jail, accused of intentionally driving into the lake with his son strapped in the back seat.

Clay County investigators said Darren Dorsey was driving at least 80 mph down the Lake Shore boat ramp and into the water. The car cartwheeled, then sank about 180 feet from shore.

Investigators said that Dorsey didn't make any attempt to avoid hitting the water or rescue his son.

A woman in the area saw the car going under, dove in, freed Cameron Dorsey from his car seat and swam with him back to shore.

"I ran down to the end of the dock and I heard a child crying and I just jumped in," Melissa Hawkinson told Channel 4. "I was sticking my arm in and unlocking the back door and pulling the child out and he was crying and extremely terrified."

Construction workers, who also happened to be nearby, pulled the father out through the vehicle's sunroof.

"It has some very suspicious circumstances, and, at this point in the investigation, the facts lead us to believe that this was a failed murder-suicide attempt," Clay County Sheriff's Office Maj. Craig Aldrich.


Darren Dorsey

Investigators charged Dorsey, a teacher at Orange Park Junior High School, with attempted murder and aggravated child abuse.

Investigators said Dorsey left his school early, saying his son had a doctor's appointment, then went to pick up the boy from Patterson Elementary. He told deputies he went to his apartment, where he "finalized his plan" to kill himself and his son.

Clay County investigators said Dorsey put the boy into his 2002 Volkswagen Jetta and drove into the lake.

Hawkinson said she wouldn't normally be in that area in the afternoon.

"It was definitely divine intervention that I was even there at that time," Hawkinson said.

Dorsey made his first appearance in Clay County Court Tuesday morning wearing a special vest to prevent him harming himself. He was ordered held on $1 million bond. Arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 7.


 

Cameron Dorsey Dorsey's wife, Alicia, told Channel 4 she was relieved that bond was set so high. "I fear for my son immensely if he was to get out," Alicia Dorsey said Tuesday. "I think (Darren Dorsey) needs some mental counseling. I don't think he needs to be in society right now."

Alicia Dorsey said she knew her husband was depressed over their separation and impending divorce, but did not suspect he was capable of hurting himself or their child.

"To take our child and to want to do what he did with our child, I cannot fathom," Alicia Dorsey said.

She said Cameron only had a few cuts to his head and face, and went home with his mother Tuesday night.

"He's saying that he doesn't want to be in an accident again, he doesn't want to be in water again," Dorsey said. "He's acting like I've never seen him act before."

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