LEE COUNTY, Florida- In River Hall, a shocking discovery has led to a man being charged with second-degree murder, credit card fraud, and grand theft. The body of 60-year-old Brian was found concealed in a freezer at his home, leading to the arrest of his son, Jake.
The local sheriff’s office reports that Jake allegedly shot his father while he was in bed, claiming it was a response to a suicide request. Following the act, Jake is said to have cleaned the blood-soaked mattress and hidden it in the attic, wrapped in trash bags. He then reportedly spent over $30,000 on his father’s credit cards.
Jake initially told authorities that his father had been involved in a car accident in June but was unharmed. He later confessed that this was a fabrication, designed to avoid conversations with his grandfather, Paul Hemmert. Despite Jake’s claims of having spoken to his father after his disappearance, the sheriff’s office found no evidence of such communication in the cell phone records.
Jake’s narrative took another turn when he claimed that his father had left the country to combat human trafficking. However, the investigation revealed that a large chest freezer had been delivered to the residence, which was found concealed and covered with supplies. The freezer, still operational and sealed with duct tape, contained Brian’s body.
Upon discovery, fingerprints matching Jake’s were found at the scene. He subsequently confessed to shooting his father, cleaning up the crime scene, disposing of the mattress, and spending a significant amount of his father’s money.
The investigation began on August 28 when Paul Hemmert reported his son missing. Jake was arrested the same day on an unrelated warrant from Arizona. Brian’s body was discovered on September 7, although the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Paul Hemmert, who maintained weekly phone calls with his son, noted a sudden halt in their communication. He was informed last week by deputies that his son’s body had been found at Brian’s residence on Yellow Wood Drive.