Milton man indicted on first-degree murder charge, accused of beating, strangling girlfriend

A Santa Rosa County grand jury has indicted a Milton man on the charge of first-degree premeditated murder in the death of his girlfriend earlier this month.

Jerry Geisler Odum, 61, is accused of striking his 59-year-old girlfriend, Vickie May Edge, in the head multiple times with a baseball bat and then ultimately choking her to death, according to a news release from State Attorney Bill Eddins' office.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered Edge’s body Aug. 7 inside Odum's home in the 5600 block of Vendome Court in Milton while conducting a welfare check at the request of Edge’s family members, who had not heard from her in two days.

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During one of the last times Edge spoke to her family, she told them she was planning to visit Odum in Milton.

According to Odum's arrest report, when deputies questioned him outside of his home and asked, "What is going on and where is Vickie?"  he responded, "She is inside, but I have to tell you something first." The second half of his statement is redacted from the released report.

When investigators asked Odum how Edge died, he replied, "I'd rather not say without a lawyer," according to the report.

They also asked why law enforcement was just called "if she's been dead for two days?" but Odum's response to that question is also redacted from the report.

Odum was taken into custody very shortly after speaking to law enforcement on Aug. 7.

Colin Warren-Hicks can be reached at colinwarrenhicks@pnj.com or 850-435-8680.