Charlotte County Sheriff's Major Crimes Unit detectives Sunday charged Juan Reyes, 47, 161 Avens St., Port Charlotte, with first-degree murder.
After the body of a white male was found in a grave on the north side of the home at 161 Avens St., the body was taken to the Charlotte County Medical Examiner's Office for identification and cause of death. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
"We are not releasing the name of the suspected victim who must be positively identified, and, next of kin who are out of state, have not been located at this time," said Capt.Bill Prummell sunday."The name of the caretaker is also being withheld, pending outcome of this investigation."
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Juan Reyes
Police say Reyes and his ex-girlfriend, the man's caretaker, lived in the home with the victim. She had been out of town several days and returned Saturday. She called CCSO around 7:30 a.m. Saturday to report she was concerned for the wellbeing of the man after talking to Reyes, fearing he may have met with some form of violence.
Deputies searched the home, then noticed freshly raked soil outside with branches covering it in the side yard between the garage and property line.
CCSO later received a call from a Cecil Web Management Area employee who said he was approached by Reyes, who was human remains were found in the grave. Reyes is in the Charlotte County Jail without bond. The area remains an active crime scene.
