2 arrested in murder of man found in trunk in Pine Hills
Two people were arrested for murder after a man reported missing earlier this week was found dead in the trunk of his own car, the Orange County Sheriff ’s Office said Saturday.
Johnny Wesley and LaShawn Triplett were arrested for first-degree murder in the killing of Melvin Wilcox, who was found inside his Honda Civic, which had been parked for days at a Walgreens in Pine Hills, according to an affidavit released by the agency. An autopsy found he was shot once in the side of his head and twice in the neck and shoulder.
Wilcox, 39, was a friend of Wesley’s and the father of Triplett’s 13-year-old child.
Wilcox was reported missing Tuesday by his mother, who told deputies he got into an argument with Wesley and Triplett after spotting them at the Orange County Fair last Sunday. The affidavit, written by Deputy Anthony Ventriere, said the couple had been dating for a year without the victim knowing, which angered him.
His mother told deputies she last saw him at around 1 a.m. Tuesday, when she said he left to go visit a friend. That friend later told Wilcox’s mother he never made it to his home, later confirming with Wesley that Wilcox went there to talk about Sunday’s altercation and left after jumpstarting his car.
But surveillance video deputies obtained by one of Wesley’s neighbors shows Wilcox entered Wesley’s home but never left. At around 6 a.m., the footage allegedly shows the Civic being backed up close to the front door before Wesley hops in and drives off, followed by Triplett in a Ford Escape.
According to the affidavit, a search of Wesley’s home found trace amounts of blood on the front door that later matched Wilcox. Investigators also found “numerous areas of blood stains on furniture, walls, flooring and doors,” as well as patched bullet holes and a bullet casing in the master bedroom.
Wilcox’s Civic, which his mother also reported missing, was found after “an anonymous tip” to the Orlando Police Department pointed authorities to a Walgreens on Pine Hills Road and North Lane. The tipster alleged the car had been there for several days, and Ventriere wrote in the affidavit that he “could smell the clear distinct smell of decomposition” coming from the car.
Wilcox, the affidavit continued, was found with a holstered gun for which he had a permit, but Ventriere wrote there was “no evidence the victim ever retrieved his firearm or was able to get a round off.”
Under questioning, both suspects allegedly said Wilcox left Wesley’s house shortly after an argument and that Wesley jumpstarted Wilcox’s car so he could leave but couldn’t explain why surveillance video contradicted their version of events.
Wesley and Triplett were arrested around 5 p.m. Saturday, and are in the Orange County Jail without bond.