On a dirt road near grasslands for cows, orange trees, and lakes, a Florida sheriff said he came across one of the worst crime scenes of his career last week: Three close friends appeared to have been beaten and shot to death. during an overnight cat fishing trip.
The murders shocked the city of 3,200 people in Frostproof, Florida, about 70 miles south of Orlando.
The victims, Damion Tillman, 23, Keven Springfield, 30, and Brandon Rollins, 27, were “massacred,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a news conference Saturday.
The sheriff said authorities were seeking information on a motive and possible suspects.
“Our intuition tells us that you don’t run into someone here,” said Sheriff Judd. “This is a clay dirt road in the middle of what we call God’s country on the way to a nice little fishing lake.”
Neighbors interviewed by police said the area near the lake was known as “a party spot” where locals go Friday and Saturday nights, Sheriff Judd said on radio 970-WFLA on Monday.
At a press conference Monday, the sheriff said there were no signs of “a bad drug deal,” theft, or domestic violence.
“We still don’t know why the murder happened,” he said.
Around 10 p.m. Friday, the men, who lived in Frostproof and have been best friends for years, decided to go fishing in the lake, Sheriff Judd said.
“What can be healthier than meeting two of your best friends to fish?” she said Saturday.
Mr. Tillman first arrived in his red GMC truck and was killed, Sheriff Judd said. Mr. Springfield and Mr. Rollins later arrived in a white truck and were shot.
While Mr. Rollins’ father was asleep at home, he received a call from Mr. Rollins saying “Help,” said the sheriff.
Mr. Rollins’ father, Cyril, got dressed and drove to where he knew his son and friends were fishing, about 10 minutes away, Sheriff Judd said.
In his rush, he forgot his cell phone, the sheriff said.
He came to find all the men shot, Sheriff Judd said. Cyril Rollins drove to a convenience store and said to an assistant, “My son needs help,” said the sheriff.
The store manager’s 17-year-old daughter returned with Cyril Rollins to the lake, Sheriff Judd said.
Before Brandon Rollins died, he said something to his father about what happened, the sheriff said, but declined to comment on what Mr. Rollins said to his father.
When paramedics and authorities arrived, the three men were dead.
Judd said more than one person could have been involved in the attack.
“I’ve been through a lot of murder scenes in my life, and this is among the worst I’ve ever been to,” said Sheriff Judd, who has been in the department for almost 50 years.
Jessica Steenson, who moved from Jacksonville, Florida, to Frostproof two years ago to be with her boyfriend, Mr. Rolins, cried while speaking to WFLA News Channel 8 on Saturday.
“This is not how it was supposed to be,” he said, “and I want justice for him.”
