BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) — Deputies have arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of setting a vehicle on fire and tampering with evidence after his father was recently arrested for allegedly killing his wife in January.
In a press conference last month, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said that on Jan. 19, Amber Estep’s mother reported her missing after not hearing from her for several days. Estep also failed to show up to her job at a hotel. Deputies learned Estep was last seen by her husband, Brian Estep, on Jan. 16, following a medical appointment.
While driving from the appointment, Brian Estep allegedly confronted his wife about cheating allegations, and she slapped him before asking him to drop her off. Estep reportedly told investigators he pulled over and let his wife out along I-95, north of State Road 50.
According to Ivey, Estep said he “begged” his wife to get back into the vehicle, but he drove off. Investigators later discovered the truck on fire after receiving multiple reports about it.
A property owner eventually located Amber Estep’s remains off State Route 46 on Jan. 20. She had suffered head trauma and multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators also reportedly located blood in a wooded area that matched the victim’s DNA.
According to Ivey, authorities determined Brian Estep allegedly killed his wife before moving her body and then disposing of her remains.
Ivey said Estep moved to West Virginia shortly after allegedly killing his wife. West Virginia State Police apprehended him and he was extradited back to Florida, where he was booked into the Brevard County Jail on charges of first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm and tampering with evidence relating to a capital felony.
In an update, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said Brian Estep’s son, Lane Estep, allegedly set the truck ablaze following Amber Estep’s death. Witnesses reportedly saw the teen help his father clean the truck “in an attempt to dispose of any evidence from the incident.”
Several weeks ago, the West Virginia State Police took Lane Estep into custody, and the State of Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives arrested him on a charge of second-degree arson. However, as of April 16, he faces two additional charges of accessory after the fact relating to a capital felony and tampering with evidence relating to a capital felony.
The sheriff’s office said the new charges come after they found “evidence of Lane Estep’s efforts to cover up evidence of the murder of Amber.”
Lane Estep and his father remain held without bond.
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Tyler Mitchell