Judd: 3 close friends ‘massacred’ during fishing trip in Frostproof
By WFLA 8 On Your Side News Staff
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) –Three young men were “massacred” during a fishing trip in Frostproof Friday night in what Sheriff Grady Judd called one of the worst murder scenes he’s ever witnessed.
Judd said Frostproof residents Brandon Rollins, 27, Keven Springfield, 30, and Damion Tillman, 23, were to meet at Lake Streety off US Hwy 27 Friday evening for some ‘night fishing.’
“It’s about as far out in the middle of the woods as you can get,” Judd said. “It’s a peaceful area. There’s a beautiful lake where three very close friends were going fishing last night.”
Judd said Damion arrived first to the lake in his truck. As soon as he did, investigators believe he was murdered by one or more individuals.
They were in the process of murdering Tillman when Judd said Rollins and Springfield arrived in another vehicle. Detectives believe they were immediately “shot up.”
“Here’s what the murderers didn’t count on,” Judd said. “One of our victims, Brandon Rollins, was able to call his father and say, ‘help.'”
The sheriff said Rollins’ father heard the call, got up, got dressed and drove to the lake. When he arrived, he witnessed what had happened.
Judd said the father was able to have final words with his son, Brandon, before he passed. The information Rollins gave to his father about the suspects remains confidential, the sheriff’s office said.
“These folks appear to be beaten and shot,” Judd said. “Do you hear me? Beaten and shot.”
Judd could not say whether the murders were random, or targeted.
“One or more murderers that killed three people in a little country community,” he continued. “A very safe, very quiet community. Murdered them while they were on their way to go catfishing last night.”
Judd said there is a $5,000 reward for anyone who has information that leads to the arrest of the murderers in the case.
“I’ve been to a lot of murder scenes in my life, and this ranks among the worst I’ve been to,” Judd said.
https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-count...dlHbAyxa1RPVAM
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