Body of missing Jensen Beach woman found in septic tank, handyman arrested
On March 2, Florida’s Martin County Sheriff’s Office issued an urgent plea to their community asking everyone to help them locate 57-year-old Cynthia M. Cole, who was last seen on Thursday, February 24 at the Jammin’ Jensen event in Downtown Jensen Beach. The Sheriff’s Office provided a physical description for the missing woman as well as a photo of her 2015 Gray Jeep Cherokee.
Cynthia is 5’5, 117 pounds with red hair and light-colored eyes. She was last seen wearing an orange shirt, as the one in the photo posted. She drives a 2015 Gray Jeep Cherokee with Florida tag DNF89. If you have seen or know the whereabouts of Cynthia Cole, please contact the Martin County Sheriff’s Office immediately at 772-220-7170.
Yesterday, the Sheriff’s Office reported that while working late Friday evening and into Saturday morning, Detectives located a body inside the septic tank of Cole’s Jensen Beach home located in the 4500 block of NE Skyline Drive. Officials are confident that those remains are Cynthia’s.
Detectives spent hours excavating Cole’s back yard, and located the body submerged in the contents of the tank about four feet underground. Shortly afterwards, detectives located and arrested 34-year-old Keoki Hilo Demich and charged him with second degree murder. Keoki performed handyman duties for Cole.
Investigators were drawn to dig up the septic tank after a deputy noticed the top of the septic tank in the backyard looked out of place. The deputy opened the septic tank and saw Cole inside.
At a press conference following the discovery of the body, it was revealed that the handyman was the primary person of interest after Cole went missing. During their investigation, deputies were able to obtain Ring Camera Footage showing the handyman driving Cole’s Jeep, “the same night when Cole was last seen,” according to WPBF.
“He made several statements that we know are false so he was charged with second-degree murder,” said Martin County Sheriff William Snyder. “I’ve been doing this 40 plus years. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Snyder said.
Snyder went on to say that it appears that Cole was murdered inside her home and her body placed in the septic tank afterwards.
The case is still under investigation. Cole’s body is now with the Medical Examiner’s Office awaiting final identification.
(Source: Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
