Investigators Allegedly Find Human Remains Stuffed In Suitcases — Suspect Was Reportedly Hunting Sex-Offenders

Police arrested a teenage suspect who allegedly targeted sex-offenders after human remains were found inside two suitcases, according to local reports.

Lucas Sander Jones, 19, was arrested March 28 in Palm Bay, Florida, after officers executed a search warrant at his residence, Fox 35 Orlando reported.

Police met with Jones and his girlfriend, claiming the former had injuries and refused to speak with investigators, the outlet reported.

Officers searched the home and allegedly discovered blood stains and a knife like the weapon found in a suitcase. The suitcases were previously discovered in The Compound of Palm Bay, Fox 35 reported. One of the suitcases was ajar, and another had personal items and a package addressed to the suspect. Both allegedly contained human remains. (RELATED: School Files Police Report After Sex Offender Running For City Council Holds Presser Mere Feet Away)

The Compound is a swath of mostly undeveloped land in Central Florida, Fox News reported.

The remains belonged to Colie Lee Daniel, a 28-year-old Indialantic man, Wesh 2 reported, citing police.

Jones girlfriend alleged to investigators that Jones had confessed to the crime, according to an affidavit cited by the outlet.

“‘I killed somebody and cut him up,’” she claimed he admitted, the document stated.

She asserted she was unaware of how the two men met, but said she “knows [Jones] had printed a list of nearby sex offenders.” She originally told police that she had witnessed Daniel alive in Jones’ bed March 20, the outlet reported. (RELATED: Worker In Woman’s Wig Allegedly Shot, Killed Millionaire Philanthropist)

However, in a subsequent interview ten days later, she revealed that claim was false, adding that she never saw the victim alive or his body, Wesh 2 reported. Daniel was reported missing on March 22.

Jones is facing multiple charges, including abuse of a dead human body, tampering with evidence and improper disposal of human remains, Fox 35 Orlando reported. He is also facing a second-degree murder charge, according to Wesh2.

An autopsy of Daniel’s body ruled his death a homicide, citing evidence of several blunt force injuries and dismemberment, according to documents cited by Wesh 2.

The affidavit alleged that Jones told his girlfriend he used a baseball bat to kill Daniel before dismembering him, the outlet reported.

Lawyers for Jones declined to comment to Wesh 2.

A Colie L. Daniel of Indialantic was listed as a registered sex offender in 2023, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.