Mom, son, visiting relative killed, house set on fire, cops say

A south Brevard County man apparently killed his wife, stepson and sister-in-law, set fire to the family home and then killed himself, the Sheriff ’s Office said Monday.

Investigators said they think Tony Hughes, 39, killed Chrissy Hughes, 39; her son, Sebastian Meachum, 9; and her sister, Linda Woods, 39, of Bella Vista, Ark.

Firefighters responded to reports of a fire at the two-story house in the 800 block of Atz Road in Malabar about 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Tony Hughes, Chrissy Hughes and Sebastian lived there. Woods was visiting.

Firefighters from Brevard County and Palm Bay found the bodies of a woman and a child Sunday. They found a second woman’s body Monday.

The condition of the remains led them to think the women were killed before the fire started, they said. Deputies did not disclose a cause of death.

The bodies hadn’t been officially identified Monday, but the boy’s father was notified that officials think he was one of the victims.

About noon Sunday, authorities found the family’s truck and boat trailer at Christenson’s Landing, a public boat ramp off U.S. Highway 1 in Grant. The engine was running, and the empty trailer was in the water.

A motorboat was found 7 miles off the coast of Sebastian Inlet running in circles. Investigators said they found what appeared to be blood in the boat, which was towed to the Brevard County Sheriff ’s Office.

Witnesses told authorities Tony and Chrissy Hughes had “domestic issues.” However, there was no record of deputies having been called to the home.