Missing Man Found Dead In Car Trunk; Mother Of His Child, Her Boyfriend Arrested

A man who was reported missing from Florida last week was found dead in his car trunk three days later, officials said. Two suspects, including the mother of the man's child and her new boyfriend, were arrested on charges of murder.

Melvin Wilcox, 39, from Pine Hills Road, Orlando, last seen on March 15, was reported missing by his family. Wilcox was found dead inside the trunk of his Honda Civic at a parking lot of a pharmacy Friday. The Orange County Sheriff's office announced the arrests of 43-year-old Lashawn Triplett, and 42-year-old Johnny Wesley, on first-degree murder charges using a firearm, according to a news release Sunday.

Triplett, the mother of Wilcox's child, and her new boyfriend Wesley allegedly shot and killed Wilcox and later disposed of his body in the car trunk, Law & Crime reported.

Wilcox allegedly encountered Wesley and Triplett at a Central Florida Fair on March 13, and got into an argument with them as Wesley, his friend, never told him that he had started dating Triplett about a year before, according to reports.

The victim's mother reported her son missing after he did not turn up at a friend's house on March 15 and could not be reached on his cell phone. She knew about the dispute between Wilcox and his friend and called Wesley to enquire about her son. Wesley told the woman that Wilcox had left his house after another argument with him. Wesley also told her that he had to jump-start Wilcox's vehicle because it had a dead battery, according to the arrest affidavit.

However, CCTV footage at Wesley's residence two days later showed Wilcox entering the house, but never leaving. The video later showed a man driving away Wilcox's vehicle and Wesley walking back home an hour later. Wesley could be then seen putting two large trash bags into his vehicle, before driving away and returning 15 minutes later.

During a search at Wesley's residence, cops found bullet holes, traces of blood, and a 9mm shell casing that suggested that Wilcox was shot inside the home, and his body was later removed.

An autopsy report revealed that Wilcox was shot three times, once in the head and twice in the area of his shoulder and neck, Click Orlando reported.

Both Wesley and Triplett were held without bond after they appeared in court Sunday.