A 19-year-old Indialantic man was arrested after police discovered human remains in two abandoned suitcases at Palm Bay’s notorious Compound area over the weekend. Lucas Jones faces charges of tampering with evidence, abuse of a dead human body and improper disposal of human remains after officers found the suitcases on Bombardier Boulevard. The remains are believed to be connected to missing person Colie Lee Daniel, though police await autopsy confirmation.
Officers responded to the area after receiving reports of vultures swarming an abandoned suitcase. Police found the first suitcase partially open in tall grass, where human remains were visible along with personal belongings and an Amazon package addressed to Jones’ home. A second suitcase containing human remains was located a short distance from the first.
“We applied for a $3.1 million grant for the Florida Job Growth for public infrastructure because, unfortunately, with the Compound, until you have the infrastructure in place, you’re not gonna really have anybody looking to develop,” said Councilman Kenny Johnson. The Compound is a 2,784-acre area in southwestern Palm Bay that was supposed to be a large residential community before the original owner went bankrupt in 1991.
According to arrest reports, Jones’ girlfriend told police she saw Daniel lying unconscious on Jones’ bed on March 20. She left to use the bathroom, and when she returned, Daniel was gone. Jones told her Daniel had left through the back door. The following day on March 21, Jones instructed his girlfriend to drive to the Compound, where she reported he removed two gray tote containers from her vehicle and discarded them in different locations.
When police executed a search warrant at Jones’ residence, they found him with visible healed wounds and bruises on parts of his body. Jones refused to participate in an interview with investigators. Police discovered blood stains throughout the residence during their search. A kitchen knife was found in one of the suitcases recovered from the Compound, and a matching knife was located inside Jones’ home.
Daniel’s mother reported him missing on March 22, two days after his girlfriend last saw him at Jones’ residence. Palm Bay Police Sgt. Vincent Galioto said detectives are waiting for autopsy results and positive identification of the human remains from the Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to confirm the identity of the remains.
Crime has long plagued the Compound area, with several murders either happening there or bodies being discovered in the remote location in recent years. City officials have attempted various development proposals for the area, including plans to turn it into a BMX racing complex, but none have materialized due to lack of infrastructure and developer interest.
Jones appeared before a judge for his first appearance, where bond was set at $7,500. The judge ordered Jones not to return to the Compound area as a condition of his release. Authorities continue their investigation while awaiting final autopsy results to confirm the identity of the human remains found in the suitcases.