Bella Vista woman believed murdered in Florida

MALABAR, Fla. — The bodies of two women and a child were found in a home authorities believe was set on fire to cover up their killings.

One of the women is believed to be Linda Woods, 39, of Bella Vista, Ark., according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. A spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office told WKMG in Orlando, Fla., that Woods was a teacher at Rogers Heritage High School. Ashley Siwiec, spokeswoman for the Rogers School District, said a Linda Woods teaches in the district but couldn’t confirm it was the same woman whose body was found in Malabar.

Deputies said Woods was in Malabar visiting her sister, Chrissy Hughes, 39. Hughes’ body was found Sunday in the house. The body of her son, Sebastian Meachum, 9, and Woods were found in the house in this town on the Atlantic coast.

Authorities have not positively identified any of the dead. Autopsies were scheduled to begin Monday at the Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office.

A preliminary examination of the women’s bodies revealed trauma indicating they were killed before the fire started.

Brevard County and Palm Bay, Fla., firefighters went to the home on Atz Road at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Hughes’ husband, Tony Hughes, 39, is missing, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tod Goodyear. Authorities found a boat belonging to the couple Sunday afternoon about 7 miles offshore. No one was on board.

Goodyear said they believe Tony Hughes might have killed all three people at the residence, set the home on fire, then killed himself.

The investigation is ongoing.