Polk County Sheriff Offers $30,000 Reward For Information on Polk County Triple Murder
A Florida sheriff on Monday said his department was offering a $30,000 reward for any vital information related to the massacre of three Polk County residents. The award would be paid in cash and would not have taxes.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said his department had received hundreds of tips. Some were promising, while others were ridiculous. He noted most of the tips came after the case generated public interest, as reported by Fox News.
Polk County Murder Scene
The move came after law enforcement officers found a brutal murder scene they said was one of the worst. The victims were identified as Damion Tillman, 23, Keven Springfield, 30, and Brandon Rollins, 27.
The horrific killings shocked the city of Frostproof, Florida that housed 3,200 residents.
According to Judd, the victims were found on a remote dirt road near cow pastures. They were allegedly on a catfishing trip when they were beaten and shot to death.
A preliminary investigation found that Rollins called his father on his cellphone and said, "Help." The father, who knew his son and two friends were fishing, drove to Lake Streety Road. When he arrived at the scene, Rollins was barely alive.
Judd said the victim was able to say a few words to his father before he died. However, the department has yet to release information on what those words could be.
Investigations showed the 23-year-old Tillman arrived first in his red pickup truck. The victim was immediately attacked. Rollins and Springfield came moments later in a white pickup, while Tillman was being killed. Both victims were also shot, The Ledger reported.
Calling for Help
Rollins' father arrived at the scene shortly after the attack. Upon seeing his son's condition, he drove to the nearest convenience store, where he phoned 911.
"In Brandon's father's excitement to run to help his son, he forgot his cellphone at home," the sheriff said.
The 17-year-old daughter of the convenience store owner accompanied Rollins' father back to Lake Streety Road. By the time they arrived, Rollins was already dead.
The police interviewed people, who lived near the murder scene. They said the area near the lake often served as a party location for locals on Friday and Saturday nights.
The police ruled out robbery after they found valuable items inside the victims' vehicles. They also said there were no signs of a drug deal gone south or domestic violence, The New York Times reported.
Judd only allowed a few details to be released to the public. He is urging anyone with information about the killings that could help their investigation to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200.
Any information that leads to the arrest of the suspects responsible for the crime would be rewarded with cash.
The Heartland Crime Stoppers will also give a $5,000 cash reward for any information about the crime. Call them at 800-226-TIPS (8477). You can also submit a tip by visiting heartlandcrimestoppers.com.
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