South Florida Sun Sentinel
Mar 06, 2022 11:06 AM
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The body of a 57-year-old woman was found buried in her backyard in a gruesome spot the handyman accused of killing her probably didn’t think police would look: The septic tank.
Detectives the Martin County Sheriff’s Office discovered the body of Cynthia Cole submerged 4 feet below ground in a septic tank behind her home in Jensen Beach late Friday, according to WPEC-News Channel 12.
Keoki Hilo Demich, 34, faces a second degree murder charge in the death of Cynthia Cole, 54, of Jensen Beach. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office/WPEC)
Cole was last seen on Feb. 24 at a street festival in downtown Jensen Beach.
Detectives made the gruesome discovery after hours of excavating her backyard, the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
Detectives later located and arrested Keoki Hilo Demich, Cole’s 34-year-old handyman, on a second degree murder charge.
The body of Cynthia Cole was found by detectives late Friday submerged 4 feet below ground in a septic tank behind her home in Jensen Beach. (WPEC-Ch. 12, courtesy)
Jensen Beach is a quiet oceanside town located 50 miles north of West Palm Beach and 90 miles north of Fort Lauderdale.
“There are elements to this case still being investigated,” the Sheriff’s Office said in its Facebook post. “We will update the community with additional information as it becomes available.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan
