A 32-year-old woman in Florida has been arrested for the murder of her 38-year-old boyfriend, whom she allegedly shot while he was asleep before dismembering his body and burying the remains in the yard of their home. Ashley Otero Averett has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder in connection with the death of Joseph Martin Eiler.
Missing Person Investigation Turns into Murder Case
The case began on March 14 when Eiler’s father reported his son missing after not seeing him since the early hours of March 12. Eiler’s father, who lived on the same property as the couple, told authorities he overheard an argument between Averett and Eiler early that morning. He claimed to have heard his son cry out, followed by the sound of him washing his face and saying Averett had struck him with a flashlight.
Later that morning, the father reportedly overheard what he believed to be gunshots at the residence.
Suspicious Behavior Raises Concerns
Eiler’s father grew increasingly concerned when his son failed to show up for work and could not be reached. When deputies responded to the home, Averett allegedly told them that after their argument, Eiler had left the house with an unknown friend.
On March 16, Eiler’s father contacted deputies again, reporting suspicious behavior by Averett, including lighting a fire in the firepit and asking questions about how to dispose of ashes. He later sifted through the ashes and found what appeared to be gun trigger locks. Additionally, he observed fresh dirt in the yard, bedding that had been removed, and laundry being done repeatedly.
Averett’s Confession
Authorities returned to the home for further questioning. Before doing so, they spoke with a family member who claimed Averett had admitted to the killing. According to the affidavit, the witness said Averett confessed to shooting Eiler while he was asleep and then attempting to dismember his body in the bathtub before burying his remains in the yard.
Eiler was reportedly the father of one of the couple’s two young children. Averett’s family members reportedly called 911, hoping to protect the children from the situation, not to assist Averett.
Details of the Murder and Dismemberment
In a post-Miranda interview with detectives, Averett allegedly confessed to murdering Eiler during an ongoing argument. She said she shot him twice in the back with a .380 caliber pistol. After he died, she attempted to dismember his body using a hatchet and a knife. Once the dismemberment was partially completed, Averett allegedly put the body parts in a gray tote and buried them in multiple spots in the yard.
Averett also confessed to purchasing cleaning supplies from several stores to clean the crime scene.
Human Remains Discovered
A search warrant was executed at the residence, where authorities found human remains buried in a freshly disturbed area of the yard, consistent with Averett’s description of where the remains were hidden. The investigators also noted that Averett had spray-painted “Joe I love you” on a storage box located near the burial site.
Current Status of Averett
Averett is currently being held in the Bay County Jail without bond. It is unclear when she is scheduled to return to court.
