A Florida woman has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for the murder of her ex-partner, whom she shot outside a Starke daycare center in July 2025 while their two young sons were present. Mindy Osteen, 34, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and related firearm charges, avoiding a trial.
Osteen arrived unexpectedly at Auntie Lili’s Childcare Center, initially embracing Christopher Travis Jones, 37, and their children. However, as Jones loaded the sons into his car, Osteen produced a handgun from her backpack and fired multiple shots into the vehicle. Jones attempted to flee into the daycare facility but was struck again before the weapon jammed.
Surveillance footage captured Osteen saying, "let the monster die" and "You got to die." Jones, who identified Osteen as the shooter before succumbing to his injuries at the hospital, reportedly told Osteen he was not harming their children. Osteen surrendered to authorities at the scene, claiming self-defense.
The two sons were unharmed and have since been adopted. Osteen's sentence includes no contact with Jones' family. Phyllis Sands, Jones' great-aunt, expressed concern over Osteen's potential future release, calling her a "very, very dangerous person."