LAKELAND, Fla. — As Polk County Sheriff's deputies continue to search for 21-year-old Ethan Fussell's body, the car reportedly involved in his disappearance and murder has been found.
Sheriff Grady Judd gave the update Thursday afternoon during a brief Facebook livestream one day after getting the word out about the missing car. The car belongs to 25-year-old Talon Page, who faces first-degree murder for Fussell's death.
"Well the breaking news is we found the silver Lexus," Judd said in the livestream. Judd goes on to explain a man traveled to a Polk County Sheriff's station with the car and turned it in.
"Do you know where we found it?" Judd continued. "A guy drove it up to one of our district stations and said 'Hey, I understand you're looking for this car.' So now we have it."
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Fussell's body was not found inside the car.
"But what we really need is Ethan Fussell," Judd said. "We need for him to be returned to his family. Yes, we have every reason to believe he's deceased. Please, don't drive him to the district station — call us and we'll come get him."
Judd said those who want to stay anonymous and be eligible for a $5,000 reward can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers.
The sheriff's office was looking for the 2000 silver Lexus 400 because they believe it was used to transport Fussell's body after it was wrapped in carpet and taken out of the mobile home where he and Page lived with friend 21-year-old Adonai Rivera.
Judd said Wednesday Page and Rivera "violently" beat Fussell to death inside the Driggers Road home. Video evidence of the attack helped deputies determine what happened, Judd said.