DEBARY, FLORIDA: A Florida man has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars for the brutal murder of his father over a decade ago. Fifty-four-year-old Robert Remus Jr will face life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2012 slaying of his father, Robert Remus Sr. The sentencing was ordered by Seventh Judicial Circuit Judge Elizabeth A Blackburn, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime.
The crime came to light when authorities responded to a distressing scene on December 12, 2012. Recreational boaters near 488 West Highbanks Road in DeBary, Florida, approximately 25 miles north of Orlando, discovered a body floating in the St Johns River and immediately alerted the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. First responders arrived at the scene and made a horrifying discovery. The body of Robert Remus Sr, aged 67, was found bloated and decomposed, with a blue and white synthetic rope tied around his neck and ankle, tethering him to a four-burner propane grill. It was apparent that the victim had been tied to the grill and tossed into the water.
Who is Robert Remus Jr?
The Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office determined that Robert Remus Sr had been a victim of homicide, and the cause of death was consistent with ligature strangulation. The body had been submerged in the water for several days, making the investigation even more challenging. Robert Remus Jr was quickly identified as a suspect, and a probable cause affidavit reveals chilling details about the motive behind the heinous act. According to the affidavit, when detectives notified Remus about his father's death, his immediate response was to inquire if he was "in trouble" and if he "needed an attorney."
During the subsequent interview with detectives, Remus attempted to distance himself from the crime by suggesting that his father had "many enemies" due to his "shrewd" business dealings. He claimed that he had seen his father four days before the incident when they went on a pontoon boat ride together and enjoyed a few beers before returning home. Remus even mentioned the presence of a metal propane grill and confirmed the existence of blue and white ropes on board.
However, surveillance footage contradicted Remus's account, showing him and his father embarking on the boat trip, with his father wearing the same clothing he was found in when his body was recovered from the river. Detectives also noticed that Remus showed no concern or curiosity about the circumstances surrounding his father's discovery with the grill tied to his body, saying he did not ask any questions about “what happened to him.”
Motive revealed
As the investigation unfolded, it became evident that financial gain was the driving force behind this heinous act. “Remus Jr. stated he wanted Remus Sr. to sell a piece of property he owned in Costa Rica for $2 million, but Remus Sr. wanted to sell it for about twice that amount,” the affidavit stated. “Remus Jr. stated he told his father they could ‘party’ for a lower sale price. Remus Jr. was interested in his ability to access Remus Sr.’s finances and also wanted the ability to complete the renovation on [the Costa Rica property] and get it sold.”
In a statement, State Attorney RJ Larizza expressed his dismay at the nature of the murder and the chilling motivations behind it. "A pontoon ride turns deadly as a son murders his father — all for financial gain," Larizza said. "The nature of the murder is especially disturbing, and unfortunately, the defendant will be spared a similar fate." After a trial that lasted four days, a Volusia County jury found Robert Remus Jr guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. The court's decision to impose a sentence of life in prison without parole sends a powerful message about the severity of the crime and the consequences of such malevolence.