A Florida man has been arrested and charged after a missing woman’s dismembered and burned body was found on the man’s ‘compound.’
On Feb. 18, Nancy Howery, 44, was reported missing by her ex-husband in Indian Harbour Beach after she failed to pick up her kids from school, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said.
The following day, officers said Howery’s Honda Odyssey was found abandoned on the side of the road. Dogs searched the area but could not locate the missing woman.
In the news: DeSantis Signs Death Warrant For Louis Gaskin, Sets Stage For Florida’s 2nd Execution In 2023
Investigators determined that Howery was last seen on Feb. 15 while visiting a friend in Palm Bay.
That friend talked with investigators and said Howery was supposed to meet her boyfriend, Daniel Stearns, 32, on the same day.
Deputies say said Howery and Stearns met on a social media site.
According to investigators, the couple got into an argument on Feb. 15, and Stearns allegedly shot and killed Howery,
“Over the next few days, Stearns allegedly dismembered and burned the body, burying the remains in several different locations,” the sheriff’s office said.
“While they were surveilling him to determine that he was burying the body and he had actually, from what our investigation showed us at this point, he actually burned the body in an effort to destroy any possible evidence,” Ivey said.
In the news: Lawsuit In Death Of 19-Year-Old College Football Player Goes To Florida Supreme Court
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the remains found had been positively identified and belonged to Howery.
“Ultimately, the surveillance led us here to ‘The Compound,’ and there are five different crime scenes,” Ivey said.
“The Compound” is thick with vegetation and spread out, so a wide area needed to be investigated and searched, according to Ivey.
Ivey said that during questioning, Stearns confessed to the murder and that he tried to conceal the body.
Stearns is facing charges of second-degree murder and evidence tampering.
Android Users, Click Here To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook Here Or Twitter Here. Signup for our free newsletter by clicking here. We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps.