Reward offered in 2007 drowning

A $5,000.00 reward is being offered for the information leading to an arrest and conviction in the February 2007 death of 21 year-old Joshua Whittier.

Whittier’s mother, Melody Schmitt, has yet to believe her son drowned accidentally after his body was found following Mardi Gras in Navarre between Juana’s Pagoda and the Navarre Beach Bridge on Feb. 18.

"We hope and pray that this generous reward will help give someone the courage to come forward," said Schmitt.

According to the Fair Justice Foundation, a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of Corona beer were close by and his wallet was found empty a bit farther up the beach, but his state identification was located in a truck belonging to the brother of a police officer, the brother has since left the state.

The FJF also state there were scrapes on Whittier's chin, hands and knees that are consistent with being pulled by his feet along with the drag marks found in the sand that lead to where his body was eventually discovered.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s office in May 2007 ruled the death an accidental drowning, which is something Schmitt has contended is not the case.

On May 20, 2008 Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall met with Schmitt and her spokesman David Craig.

At that meeting Craig said he would provide new details in a written statement.

“Out of concern for this grieving mother we are willing to answer any questions within our ability to do so, in order to help her bring closure to the loss of her son,” Hall said in a press release following the meeting.

According to Marc Ward Schmitt and Craig have yet to turn over any new information, but the information they have provided is just speculation.

Officials determined Whittier had levels of alcohol and cocaine in his system that would have impaired his ability to balance, swim, or tread water.

The cocaine level in Whittier’s system indicated recent cocaine usage prior to his drowning following the Mardi Gras celebration on Navarre Beach.

According to Santa Ross Sheriff’s Office Assistant Public Information Officer Marc Ward, “three different agencies, namely the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office, Medical Examiner’s Office, and the First Judicial State Attorney’s Office, conducted their own independent investigation into the matter and came up with the same conclusion.”

The Fair Justice Foundation, assert something else occurred as Whittier’s friends speculated foul play was involved since there was no fluid in the lungs to support an accident in the water.

According to investigators original report from 2007, the drugs found in Whittier’s system corroborate several witnesses’ accounts indicating he was extremely intoxicated and refused several people offering him rides home.

Also due to the cocaine in his system, any type of physical exertion in the water in an attempt to stay afloat would have contributed to his death.

Weeks before his death, Whittier signed with Ford Models of Miami, started a new job in Gulfport, Mississippi, and traveled home to Navarre, Florida on the weekends.

In 2009, Melody Schmitt retained the assistance of the seasoned homicide investigation team at the Fair Justice Foundation.

The FJF team has investigated numerous high profile and cold cases such as the Jon Benet Ramsey, Columbine, Charles Manson and the Tate-LaBianca murders just to mention a few.

OM Gray, retired Sheriff's Captain and Municipal Court Judge, reports that there are at least 50 newly uncovered pieces of evidence to further support that Joshua's death was no accident.

"We remain fully committed to following this evidence wherever it may lead us in seeking justice for Joshua," Gray said

Robin Sax, a former prosecutor with the FJF and acclaimed author, questioned the cause of death issued by the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office.

"If this young man had drowned, even in an inch of water, there would have been clear evidence." Sax continued," Since there was foreign DNA found on the outside of Josh's clothing and the cell phone in his pocket was still operational, it is pretty obvious that something more than an unfortunate accident happened to Josh.

"I applaud Melody's tenacity in seeking justice for her son, the generous reward offered by the unknown donor, the professionals over at the Fair Justice Foundation and the ongoing support of the Gulf Coast Community to demand justice for Joshua."

To report information: call the anonymous Fair Justice Foundation tip line at 206-312-7399 or e-mail tips to: tips@fairjusticefoundation.org.