Crime & Safety
Murder Charge Filed In Deaths Of Fishing Buddies At Lake Streety
An acquaintance has been indicted in Polk County for killing three friends who were fishing on a July night in Frostproof.
POLK COUNTY, FL — An acquaintance has been indicted on murder charges in the deaths of three buddies who met up to go fishing at Lake Streety in July. Prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty in the case.
A Polk County grand jury indicted Tony "T.J." Wiggins, 26, with three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Damon Tillman, 23, Brandon Rollins, 27, and Kevin Springfield, 30, said the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Wiggins will remain in the Polk County Jail without bail, reported Bay News 9. Prosectors have not said if they will pursue the death penalty. He is scheduled to return to court Nov. 3 for a status hearing.
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Prosecutors have 45 days to determine whether to seek the death penalty for Tony “T.J.” Wiggins, reported WTSP.
Wiggins' 21-year-old brother, William "Robert" Wiggins, remains in jail and faces charges of accessory after the fact to a capital felony and tampering with evidence. T.J. Wiggins' girlfriend, Mary Clare Whittemore, 27, is also still in jail and faces a charge of accessory after the fact to a capital felony.
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T.J. Wiggins was inside the same Dollar General store on July 17 that Tillman had stopped at before driving out to a lake to fish with Rollins and Springfield on Lake Streety near U.S. Highway 27, authorities said.
According to investigators, a clerk at the Dollar General heard Tillman talking about his fishing plans with T.J. Wiggins as they stood in the checkout line.
Robert Wiggins told authorities that after he and his brother left the store, T.J. Wiggins told him to turn onto a particular road, instead of going home.
Two trucks, occupied by the three victims, passed Robert Wiggins on that road, and police said T.J. Wiggins told his brother to make a U-turn and follow the trucks.
After Robert Wiggins stopped his truck near the victims' vehicles, detectives said T.J. Wiggins got out of the truck and started screaming at Kevin Springfield with accusations that he stole his truck.
Law enforcement officials said Robert Wiggins saw his brother shoot all three victims.
Related story: 2 Brothers And A Woman Accused In Triple Homicide: Police
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