According to authorities, a 25-year-old Florida killed his 21-year-old wife and buried her in the backyard of their former home. However, they did not find out about the death until the same man allegedly killing the woman’s parents and brother. The bodies were found on Jan. 1, and the alleged killer was taken into custody days later in Ohio. At the time he was taken into custody, he admitted to killing his wife.
He was able to convince others that she was still alive by sending text messages and pictures. The couple had two children, and authorities said that they were found safe in the vehicle that their father was in when he was found. Police say that it is uncertain whether the children witnessed the murder take place. Police also said that it was unclear what the motive for the murder was or what may have happened prior to it.
Authorities did say that the murder was likely caused by blunt-force trauma. The last time that anyone had seen or talked to the woman directly was in January 2018. According to investigators, it is possible that she had been dead for up to a year. The victim said that she was planning on leaving her husband around the time that family members last had contact with her.
A person who is charged with homicide could spend decades in prison. However, an attorney may be able to create defenses to such a charge. For instance, it may be possible to claim that a defendant killed another person in self-defense or to protect a family member. An attorney could also assert that evidence was collected improperly. These strategies could result in a case being thrown out before a trial occurs.