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Highlands Today

Polk County Sheriff's Office: Frostproof Murder Suspects Were At AP McDonald's

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: January 15, 2009

AVON PARK More details emerged Wednesday regarding the locating of two Frostproof murder suspects in Avon Park on Monday.

"We received information that they were at the McDonald's there on (U.S.) 27 in Avon Park," said Carrie Eleazer, public information officer with the Polk County Sheriff's Office. "It was pretty reliable information."

Polk County Sheriff's detectives contacted the Avon Park Police Department and asked them to meet at the McDonald's where the two men - Jose Santos Mata, 34, and his brother, Jorge Santos Mata, believed to be in his 20s - were said to be.
Eleazer said the two men were not placed under arrest at that time, but were asked if they would accompany detectives back to the scene of the alleged crime and answer some questions. Both agreed.

"The detectives took them to the scene and they were subsequently interviewed and placed under arrest," Eleazer said.

Both Mata brothers and a third man, Romeo Augusto Lemos, 37, were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Frostproof resident Julio Villatoro, 31. It is believed the victim's throat was slashed.

At 7:49 a.m. Monday, Polk County Sheriff's deputies received a call in reference to a dead person who had been cut, according to a press release.

Units responded to 68 Brooks Ridge Road in Frostproof and met with Lemos, who reportedly told law enforcement that the victim had killed himself and was lying near the tree line.

Deputies were unable to find Villatoro in the spot Lemos had directed them. The suspect eventually told them Villatoro had been moved by the Mata brothers, according to the PCSO.

A dive team recovered the body from a nearby pond.

The investigation alleges that Villatoro returned from a party, and the men began arguing around 10:30 p.m., Sunday. The argument became physical and the victim was reportedly taken outside and held down while his throat was cut.

The body was disposed of in the pond the next day.

All of the men involved work for M. Avellaneda Harvesting in Frostproof and lived at the Brooks Ridge Road residence, the sheriff's office said.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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