Matthew Paul Weldon murdered Carroll Edwin Bryan Jr., deputies said. (Mug shot: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)
A man beat another man to death in a dispute over a borrowed car, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. Covered in blood, the suspect pointed deputies toward the victim, they claim.
Matthew Paul Weldon, 37, remains in the local jail with no listed bond, records show.
According to court documents and a press statement, witnesses said Weldon and the victim, Carroll Edwin Bryan Jr., 49, had been arguing throughout the day on Tuesday. Finally, Weldon allegedly went to a neighbor’s home and admitted to having just killed someone.
“The neighbor told the defendant that he was calling 911, and the defendant stated, ‘No, no, no,’” deputies said. “The defendant then ran to his other neighbor’s residence and told them he just killed someone.”
Deputies responded to a neighbor’s 911 call.
“When deputies arrived on scene, they located the suspect, 37-year-old Matthew Weldon, in front of the residence covered in blood,” law enforcement wrote. Weldon had blood on his clothes and hands, they said. “Weldon told deputies ‘He is dead’ and pointed towards the residence. Deputies then discovered the victim, later identified as 49-year-old Carroll Bryan, lying on the back patio of the residence suffering from multiple blunt force injuries to his head, neck, and arm. Bryan was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Alleged motive
Detectives claim that Weldon and Bryan met at a bar in Clearwater about two weeks before.
“Weldon offered help to Bryan and loaned him his vehicle about one week ago,” the press release goes on. “Bryan did not return the vehicle when he agreed to, and Weldon became upset. Detectives say Bryan arrived at the residence with Weldon’s vehicle on May 21, 2024, and they engaged in an argument. Detectives say that based on the evidence at the scene, it appears that Bryan was on the rear patio of the residence when he was struck in the back of the head. Bryan was then struck repeatedly while on the ground, causing additional injuries.”
Weldon sustained minor injuries, they said.
The investigation is said to be ongoing. Records show that on Friday, a public defender entered a written plea of not guilty on Weldon’s behalf and made a formal demand for discovery.
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