Suspected murderers' drove straight to McDonald's
Three people have been arrested in connection with the deaths of three friends who set out to go on a fishing trip.
Authorities confirm they have arrested Tony "TJ" Wiggins, 26, has been arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing the three men near a lake in the central Florida community of Frostproof on Friday night, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Wiggins' girlfriend, Mary Whittemore, 27, and his brother, William "Robert" Wiggins, 21, have also been charged with accessory after the fact of a capital felony.
The trio were arrested just five days after they allegedly killed three mates, Damion Tillman, 23, Keven Springfield, 30, and Brandon Rollins, 27.
Brandon Rollins
Mr Rollins called his father before his death, begging for “help”.
The three friends were planning to fish on Friday night, but a truck carrying the suspects followed them.
Judd says TJ Wiggins eventually got out and shot them in a rural area of Frostproof, east of Tampa.
"When we found these people ... massacred ... we thought, my goodness, what could have happened there. Now we know," Judd told reporters Wednesday.
Details about whether the three suspects had attorneys weren't immediately available.
Surveillance video showed Damion Tillman purchasing items at Dollar General, and a clerk told investigators that Tillman said he was going fishing.
After questioning all three suspects, Robert Wiggins eventually admitted to investigators that he had seen Tillman at the Dollar General store Friday night while standing in line with his brother, the sheriff's office said.
Robert Wiggins went on to tell investigators that while driving a truck with TJ and Whittemore, his older brother directed him to turn onto a particular road instead of going home.
Then two trucks carrying the three eventual victims passed by, and TJ Wiggins told his brother to "make a U-turn and follow the trucks," the sheriff's office said.
The sheriffs office said "Robert stayed in the truck with Whittemore, while TJ got out and confronted" one of the men.
Mr Rollins called his father before his death, begging for “help”.
He allegedly punched him and accused him of stealing his truck.
"Robert told detectives he watched as TJ shot all three victims. TJ then asked Robert to help him put (one of the victims) into the back of one of the trucks," the sheriff's office said.
Judd says he they are still uncertain about the details or veracity of TJ Wiggins' claim surrounding the stolen truck.
"The only information we have is TJ is allegedly mad over some kind of truck deal that happened some period of time ago. We've not had an opportunity to ... dig into that," the sheriff said.
Oddly enough, the suspects allegedly drove to McDonald’s right after the killings and ordered 10 double cheeseburgers and two chicken sandwiches.
The next morning, Robert took his truck to a car wash and cleaned it, according to the sheriff's office.
TJ Wiggins is being held on charges of first-degree murder; tampering with evidence; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, the sheriff's office said.
All three suspects are scheduled to have their first appearance in court at 1 p.m. on Thursday.