2 arrested after missing Orange County man found dead in trunk of his car, deputies say

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County man reported missing in Pine Hills has been found dead, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Saturday 5:50 p.m. update:

Orange County deputies said they arrested two people in connection with the death of a man who has been missing for several days.

Melvin Wilcox hasn’t been seen since Tuesday night.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Deputies said a Johnny Wesley and Lashawn Triplett were arrested for first-degree murder in his death.

Sources say Orlando police found Wilcox’s missing blue Honda at a Walgreens on Pine Hills Road.

Homicide detectives found his body in the trunk there.

Channel 9 has a crew working to gather more details and will have continuing coverage on Eyewitness News.

Original report:

Orange County deputies are asking for the community’s help to find a missing 39-year-old man.

Deputies said they are looking for Melvin Wilcox, who was last seen in the area of Elon Drive in Pine Hills.

Wilcox is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. Deputies said he was last seen wearing a gray hoodie, gray sweatpants and gray shoes.

Deputies said he is possibly driving a blue Honda Civic with Florida tag number HGSX29.

READ: ‘I killed a lady on the bridge’: Text messages released after bridge tender’s arrest

Wilcox’s mother, Tawanna Burke, said her son lives with her in Pine Hills and hasn’t been seen since Tuesday.

Burke said the last time she saw him, he had just come home from dropping his brother off at the airport.

“He left here, said he was going somewhere and that’s the last time I saw my child,” she said.

READ: Florida homeowner’s insurance market in free fall as costs climb and benefits sink

Burke says Wilcox is responsible, a loving father of two and a good person. She said he would never take off and she thinks he’s in trouble.

“My son’s my only family, OK, he’s all I got,” Burke said.

READ: Most medical debt to be removed from credit reports

Orange County deputies said they’re following leads in the case. They haven’t said if they suspect foul play.

If you have any information about his whereabouts, contact 407-836-HELP (4357).

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

©2022 Cox Media Group