COVEDALE, Green — A Clay County man who allegedly held an elderly couple captive for over two days in their own home has been charged with manslaughter and tampering with evidence after a body was found in the backyard, deputies say.
A newly obtained report suggests Aubrey Lumpkin got into an altercation with his girlfriend, who later died as a result. The police report states that Lumpkin confessed to burying her in the backyard.
Deputies say he proceeded to extort money from her parents by assuming her identity.
On April 11, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigated a home invasion robbery in the 1500 block of County Road 315.
This led to the arrest of Lumpkin, 46, for home invasion robbery and charges related to an outstanding arrest warrant, according to a statement from CCSO.
Lumpkin allegedly held an elderly couple captive inside their own home for over two days before calling the police. A police report says that he called 911 and told the operator he "was a piece of s***" and was turning himself in.
A police report says Lumpkin admitted that he had done some "horrible things" and that there were two elderly people that needed medical assistance. He repeated that he did some heinous things.
Deputies arrived and reportedly found two victims bound by duct tape on their arms, legs, and faces. While Lumpkin was being placed in handcuffs, a police report says he said that he also mentioned he had murdered someone.
During the course of the robbery investigation, information was uncovered which led investigators to conduct an extensive search for human remains in a wooded area near the location of the robbery, deputies say.
On April 15, deputies say the remains of a woman were recovered.
During the interview process at the Orange Park Substation, the police report says Lumpkin told them he had been in a physical altercation with the victim approximately two years ago. He reportedly told deputies that during that altercation, he struck the victim multiple times in the face and head, causing her to fall hard to the floor in the residence they were staying at.
The report says Lumpkin told them he noticed she was not breathing, and he attempted CPR, but was unsuccessful at resuscitating her.
Lumpkin reportedly told deputies he waited about 45 minutes before dragging the woman approximately 100 yards into the woods behind the residence, where he buried her nude.
The defendant never notified emergency personnel or law enforcement of the injury or subsequent death, deputies say.
Deputies say Lumpkin also confessed to taking on the identity of the victim following her death via text and social media communications with her parents to extract money from them in the form of money wiring.
The victim has been identified, but police are not releasing the name of the victim per the family’s request.
On June 8, based on all evidence gathered, Lumpkin has been additionally charged with manslaughter and tampering with evidence, officials said.
The Medical Examiner's Office was unable to determine the exact cause of death due to decomposition. However, trauma was identified on the neck, left side of face and the mouth area.
“It was determined that the defendant did commit the listed offenses based on the evidence found," the ME report said.
Deputies arrived at a home on County Road 315 in Green Cove Springs, where they found two victims bound by duct tape on their arms, legs and faces. The couple was extremely dehydrated, malnourished and suffering from infections, the report said.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office released the 911 call. In it, Lumpkin told the dispatcher "I'm a piece of sh**. I need medical attention out here for this elderly couple. I'm turning myself in."
Cook said Lumpkin "made several statements about potentially burying somebody in a property next to the house" as well.
According to the couple's family members, Lumpkin used to live in a different home on the property with one of the couple's daughters. The family members said they haven't heard from the woman since she left the home two years ago. Officials haven't made any connections, though.
The couple's granddaughter said she received texts from her grandmother's phone. Her grandmother told her from the hospital the texts were sent by Lumpkin. Her grandmother said Lumpkin asked for her granddaughter's bank account information as well.