PALM BAY, Fla. — A 19-year-old Indialantic man has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge after human remains were found in suitcases in a remote area of Palm Bay, court records show.
A Brevard County grand jury indicted Lucas Sander Jones on May 19 in the death of 28-year-old Colie Lee Daniel.
Jones is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, abuse of a dead human body, tampering with evidence related to a capital felony and improper disposal of a human body.
Daniel was reported missing March 21 by his parents, according to an arrest affidavit.
Investigators said Daniel was last seen March 20 arriving at a home on Watson Drive in Indialantic.
According to the affidavit, Daniel’s parents later went to the home to check on him, but Jones told them Daniel was not inside and would not allow them to enter.
Palm Bay police later joined the investigation March 28 after officers were called to an area near 1574 Bombardier Boulevard, known as “The Compound,” after abandoned suitcases were found in tall grass.
Investigators said human remains were found inside the suitcases.
According to the affidavit, an Amazon package addressed to Jones at his Indialantic home was found inside one of the suitcases.
A search warrant was later executed at Jones’ home.
Investigators said several red droplets and spatter consistent with human blood were found inside the home. Presumptive tests also showed large amounts of human blood in the hallway, living room, garage and kitchen area, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit said investigators also found evidence of an attempted cleanup inside the home.
According to investigators, Jones’ girlfriend later told detectives that Jones said he had killed someone and cut him up.
She told investigators Jones said he killed Daniel with a baseball bat and dismembered his body with a cleaver, saw and knife, according to the affidavit.
The girlfriend also told detectives Jones placed the remains in suitcases and storage totes, according to investigators.
The affidavit said investigators found a drill bit in a bag with some of the remains. Investigators said an injury was observed that was consistent with a drill hole similar in size to the drill bit found in the suitcase.
Investigators said Jones had searched for Daniel on a registered sex offender list and told his girlfriend after the killing that Daniel was on that list.
The affidavit also said Jones’ mother found a printed list of nearby sex offenders and threw it away before the first residential search warrant was executed.
The medical examiner later confirmed the remains belonged to Daniel.
According to the affidavit, Daniel’s manner of death was ruled a homicide. The affidavit said the medical examiner found multiple blunt-force injuries to Daniel’s head and extremities before death, though the cause of death was listed as unspecified.
The indictment accuses Jones of killing Daniel on or between March 20 and March 21 by inflicting blunt-force injuries or by unspecified means.
Jones remains charged in Brevard County. Court records show the indictment was filed May 19.
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