A woman in Florida has been arrested and charged with open murder after her boyfriend’s dismembered body parts were discovered buried in her yard.
Details of the Incident
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a missing person report for Joseph Eiler, 38, on March 14. His father had last heard from him on March 12 and mentioned hearing a loud argument between Eiler and his girlfriend, Ashley Averett, 32, around 4 a.m. that day.
Averett’s Suspicious Behavior
On March 16, police contacted Averett, who claimed that after their argument, Eiler left the house with a friend. However, Eiler’s father contacted the police again that same day, saying that Averett was acting suspiciously. He reported:
- Hearing gunshots the night of the argument.
- Seeing Averett burning things in a fire pit.
- Noticing missing bedsheets and disturbed soil in the yard.
Confession and Arrest
Investigators returned to the house, and a witness revealed that Averett had confessed to shooting Eiler twice while he was asleep. She allegedly attempted to dismember his body before burying him in the yard. The authorities later found his remains in several parts of the yard, buried under freshly disturbed soil.
Averett was arrested without any resistance and charged with open murder.
No Evidence of Self-Defense
Captain Daffin from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said that the evidence found at the scene did not suggest self-defense. He pointed out that although Averett gave an explanation for her actions, her version of the story cannot be fully trusted as Eiler is no longer able to tell his side.
The investigation is still ongoing.
