Wife and two sons of man found dead on family vacation charged in connection to his murder

Two brothers who asked for donations to support their futures following the death of their dad in 2021 were arrested, along with their mother, last week in connection to their father’s murder.

The three family members were arrested last Wednesday in connection to the stabbing death of David Rainey, whose body was found submerged in a canal in Suwannee, FL where the family had been vacationing at the time, the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday.

Rainey’s wife Cindy reported her husband of 21 years missing on the morning of July 25, 2021, and said he hadn’t returned to the rental house they were staying after leaving the night before, according to the sheriff.

She told deputies that she and her husband had gotten into an argument the evening before and he walked out of the vacation rental without his glasses, wallet or phone.

Following an “extensive search of the area,” sheriff deputies found Rainey’s body in the canal behind the backyard of the rental on the same day he was reported missing, the Dixie County Sheriff said.

Rainey, 52, had several stab wounds to the chest and was dumped in the waterway following his death, according to the sheriff.

His death was ruled a homicide and the case stood still, with no arrests, for more than two years — until last week.

Cindy Rainey, along with the couple’s sons Bailey Railey and Jack Railey were each arrested and charged with tampering with evidence on Oct. 25.

Cindy and Bailey were arrested in Bunnell and Jack was arrested in Orlando by deputies who traveled to each city. All three are being held without bond.

The sheriff has not revealed whether any of the three are suspects in the actual stabbing and murder of Rainey.

The news of the family members’ arrests comes after the family launched a GoFundMe campaign asking for donations for Rainey’s two boys’ future in lieu of flowers immediately after his murder. The campaign raised $475 from six donors.

Rainey’s obituary simply states that he “passed away unexpectedly.”

The dad was born in California but was living with his family in Palm Coast, FL at the time of his death. He worked as a welder and mechanic for Ethos Energy and traveled all over the US and the world for his work, according to his obituary.

The family of four and a family friend had rented the house in Suwannee for a getaway when Rainey was killed.