Lane Michael Estep, center, helped his father Brian Estep, left, cover up murdering Amber Estep, right, by setting fire to his father’s truck, deputies say. (Images: Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)
A young man helped cover up the crime after his father murdered his mother, say deputies in Brevard County, Florida.
Lane Michael Estep, 18, set fire to the truck of his co-defendant, Brian Estep, 42, according to authorities. The men were recently extradited from West Virginia to the Sunshine State to face charges in the death of victim Amber Renee Estep, 39.
Amber was last seen Jan. 16. Her mother reported her missing on the following 19th after she missed shifts at work.
Investigators said they spoke to the victim’s husband, Brian Estep. During the interview, Brian Estep allegedly told detectives that he had last seen his wife on the afternoon of Jan. 16. The husband said he and his wife got into an argument after leaving a medical appointment in Merritt Island, and he claimed that he dropped her off on the side of Interstate 95, just north of State Road 50 “after she requested to be let out of the vehicle.”
Brian Estep allegedly claimed Amber demanded he let her out of the vehicle even though they were going northbound on I-95.
Defendant Estep allegedly said he let her out on mile marker 215, and that she took her phone and purse. He allegedly claimed that he did not reach out to her for several days because he wanted to give her space.
