A Florida man was arrested after human remains were discovered in two suitcases in a secluded area of Brevard County, authorities said.
Lucas Sander Jones, 19, from Indialantic, is facing charges of tampering with evidence, abuse of a dead human body, and improper disposal of human remains, according to Brevard County Sheriff’s Office online booking records.
Jones was taken into custody early on Sunday but was released a few hours later after posting a $7,500 bond, as per online records.
On March 28, police in Palm Bay responded to an area called “The Compound,” where vultures were reportedly swarming around an abandoned suitcase, as per WFTV.
Officers found what seemed to be human remains in one partially opened suitcase, and another suitcase, also containing human remains, was found nearby, the television station reported.
Police suspect that the remains belong to Colie Lee Daniel, who was reported missing on March 22, according to WFTV.
Evidence at the scene, including a shipping package addressed to Jones, led investigators to search his residence in Indialantic, WFTV stated.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the remains belong to Daniel.
Investigators noted “visible healed wounds” and bruises on Jones’ left shoulder and the right side of his neck, based on the arrest affidavit. Jones’ girlfriend mentioned seeing Daniel at Jones’ residence on March 20, lying on a bed and looking either “sleeping or unconscious.”
On March 21, the girlfriend claimed that Jones asked her to drive him to the “Compound,” where she saw Jones discarding two “gray tote containers” in different areas of the 2,784-acre location in southwestern Palm Bay. She stated that she was unaware of the contents of the containers and did not recall seeing two black suitcases, but she believed they were abandoned at the “Compound,” as per the arrest affidavit.
Jones is set to appear in court for arraignment on April 21, according to court documents.
