Fountain, Fla. (WDNews) — A Fountain woman has been arrested and charged with murder following an investigation into her boyfriend’s disappearance, according to multiple reports.
Authorities said a missing person report was filed Saturday for 38-year-old Joseph Eiler, who was last seen early Thursday morning at a home on Creek Haven Road.
According to reports, Eiler’s father told investigators he heard an argument between Eiler and his girlfriend, Ashley Averett, 32, around 4 a.m. Thursday. After that, Eiler was not seen again and failed to report to work for two scheduled shifts.
Multiple reports state that Averett initially told investigators Eiler had left the home with an unknown friend following the argument.
Eiler’s father later contacted authorities again after noticing suspicious activity at the home, according to reports. He said he heard another argument and what he believed were gunshots in the early morning hours.
Reports indicate he also observed unusual behavior from Averett, including excessive cleaning, burning items in a fire pit, restricting access to parts of the home and asking how to dispose of ashes. He also reported missing bed sheets, freshly disturbed soil in the yard and a firearm placed in an unusual location.
According to investigators, a witness later reported that Averett admitted to shooting Eiler while he was asleep and attempting to dispose of his body.
Multiple reports state that Averett later confessed during an interview to shooting Eiler twice with a .380 caliber handgun. She also reportedly admitted to attempting to dismember the body, burying the remains in the yard and purchasing cleaning supplies in an effort to clean the scene.
During a search of the property, authorities reportedly discovered human remains in areas of freshly disturbed soil.
Averett was taken into custody without incident and charged with one open count of murder.
The investigation remains ongoing.
