NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — A Jacksonville woman charged as accessory after the fact in the murder in the shooting death of Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers has pleaded guilty.
Breiana Tole, who was 27 at the time, was accused of helping Patrick McDowell, Moyers' alleged killer, escape. She was charged after McDowell's arrest on Sept. 28, 2021.
Investigators said Tole drove to Callahan last year to try to help Patrick McDowell escape. A Nassau County judge set her bond at $1 million.
The State Attorney's Office said Tole had been in communication with McDowell while he was on the run as police searched for him, a manhunt that would last five days.
Tole drove to Nassau County with the "intent to assist and aid McDowell with his escape," according to the State Attorney's Office.
McDowell shot Moyers twice, once in the face and once in the back, along with shooting a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office K-9 Friday, according to Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. Moyers died from his injuries in the hospital.
Tole knew McDowell had killed Moyers, according to an arrest warrant.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies across Florida and Georgia assisted in the five-day manhunt for McDowell.
McDowell is charged with first degree murder as well as one count of injuring or killing a police dog and eight counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. He has pleaded not guilty. The state is seeking the death penalty.
His next appearance will be August 15 at 8:30 a.m. for a pretrial hearing.