Florida man believed responsible for double-murder found dead

(2908 Bentwood Lane, Image credit: OCSO)

Yesterday, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office reported that they were searching for a man they suspected was responsible for a double homicide,  after two deceased bodies were found inside a home at 2908 Bentwood Lane near Fort Walton Beach, Florida. They identified their suspect as 47-year-old Chad Ankenbrand.

OCSO Deputies were called to the house in the Willow Bend neighborhood on Tuesday to perform a welfare check on one of the residents, a female.

After being unable to make contact with anyone inside the home, deputies made entry and discovered two dead bodies.  The victims were identified as 52-year-old Annastacia Merrell and 51-year-old Patrick Tymoch.

Merrell was Ankenbrand’s estranged and former girlfriend.  Tymoch was a co-worker of Merrell’s.  Both Merrell and Tymoch appeared to have died from gunshot wounds.

Investigators immediately reported that they considered Ankenbrand a person of interest and they were searching for him in connection with the double homicide on Bentwood Lane. The Sheriff’s Office also warned that Ankenbrand should be considered armed and dangerous, and for citizens not to attempt to make contact with him if spotted.

Officials also sent out pictures of the black Ford Mustang convertible with Florida tag 36BAWX they believed Ankenbrand was driving.

Later in the day yesterday, the Mt. Carmel Illinois Police Department issued a statement saying that they believed Ankenbrand might be driving around in a stolen 2013 silver Nissan Juke with Alabama “Auburn University ” license plate GPN066; and their office distributed images of a similar Nissan Juke for description purposes.

Deputies said Ankernbrand sold his car to a Crestview [Florida] resident Monday, Jan. 31; the same day deputies believe Merrell and Tymoch were killed. The buyer called deputies when he learned they were looking for Ankerbrand and the Mustang on Feb. 1. ~ WKRG

Also yesterday, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office reported that they recovered the Mustang Ankenbrand was driving in the northern portion of their county, followed by word that officials in Indiana had found Ankenbrand yesterday – but he was found dead from a presumed self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a vehicle in Indiana.

The vehicle in which his body was found, the 2013 silver Nissan Juke, belonged to one of his victims, his estranged girlfriend Annastacia Merrell.  OCSO Investigators believe Ankenbrand was trying to make his way to Illinois, where he has connections. The car containing his remains was recovered not far from the Indiana/Illinois state line.

(Chad Ankenbrand Mugshot, Image credit: OCSO)
(Sources:  Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office & Mt. Carmel Illinois Police Department)

~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter