A 19-year-old teenager has left investigators stunned with the gruesome details he reportedly shared about a brutal killing he is accused of committing. Lucas Sander Jones, 19, allegedly confessed to his girlfriend about the crime, stating, “I killed somebody and cut him up,” a statement that has become crucial evidence in the case.
The series of disturbing events unfolded on March 20 when the girlfriend visited Jones’ residence in Indialantic, Florida. Upon arrival, she encountered a distressing scene with blood on the floor and walls, stains on Jones’ attire, and signs of attempted cleanup, including the use of black spray paint inside the property.
During this encounter, Jones purportedly made a shocking admission. Police claim that the victim, Colie Lee Daniel, 28, was deliberately targeted because of his status as a registered sex offender. An updated affidavit suggests that Jones had prepared a list of nearby sex offenders before the incident, indicating possible premeditation.
Daniel, previously convicted in 2018 for an offense involving a minor, was on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s sex offender registry. Authorities allege that Jones assaulted him with a baseball bat before dismembering his body using various tools. Concerned when Daniel did not return home, his parents tracked his location through his device, leading them to Jones’ address.
Upon visiting the house, the parents were informed that their son was inside but refused to come out. After contacting the police, officers initially faced difficulty gaining access to the property. Upon their return the next day, Daniel was nowhere to be found. Allegedly, Jones disposed of the remains in containers and a suitcase, eventually abandoning them in a remote area known as “the Compound” in Palm Bay.
The grim discovery was made days later when authorities were alerted to human remains found in an abandoned suitcase, which vultures had been circling. The suitcase contained evidence linking back to Jones. Daniel, convicted in 2018 for a lewd or lascivious battery offense, was listed as a sex offender on the state registry.
According to the affidavit, Jones had reportedly researched local sex offenders prior to the incident. His girlfriend described how he dismembered the body using a cleaver, saw, and knife. Later, she provided a revised timeline of events, disclosing that Jones had instructed her not to speak to the police and claimed the victim was already dead and dismembered upon her arrival.
Furthermore, she shared undisclosed details, including allegations that Jones had retained some of the victim’s blood. Initially arrested for handling human remains, Jones was later charged with first-degree murder. He is currently detained without bond as legal proceedings progress.
