A Florida man is behind bars after police say he murdered his wife, then dismembered her before disposing of the remains.
During a Thursday morning press conference, Delray Beach Police Chief Russ Major announced the arrest of 78-year-old William Lowe, in connection with the death of his wife, Aydil Barbosa Fontes. Police said the victim’s remains were stuffed inside two suitcases and three different bags.
A passerby found the first set of remains on July 21, inside a suitcase floating in the Intracoastal waterway, as CrimeOnline previously reported. On the same day and in the same area, two other suitcases with human body parts were found. Then, police said, two additional bags were found on July 22 in the same area.
Further investigations and evidence led police that to conclude that Lowe shot his wife, identified as Fontes, in the head before dismembering her.
Police said a vehicle matching his description of the defendant’s car was spotted multiple times in the area by witnesses and security footage. Investigators also found airline scan code on one of the suitcases that belonged to “Barbosa Ontes / A” with the same address as Lowe’s, Fox 35 reports.
Police added they were “very certain” they arrested the right person.
A neighboring couple told police that they saw a white male peering into waterway several days before July 21. He was then seen five to six times over three days, police said. When confronted, the man, later identified as Lowe, said he was “waiting for the big boat to come into the harbor.”
“Detectives conducted neighborhood canvases and developed multiple witnesses that were able to supply information in reference to vehicle and a subject that was seen in the area multiple times prior to the suitcases being located,” Delray Beach Police Detective Mike Liberta said.
Security footage reportedly showed Lowe sneaking down a dock while carrying a Cheesecake Factory bag. When he re-emerged, the footage showed him without the bag. Police said some of the body parts were later found in a Cheesesteak Factory bag.
Police then interviewed the defendant, who claimed his wife was in Brazil and had been there for around three weeks. After obtaining a search warrant, police found blood spatter inside Lowe’s home, blood in the shower drain, and a 9mm firearm.
“I’d say this is probably the worst I’ve seen,” Liberta added.
Police arrested Lowe and charged him with first-degree murder. His defense attorney. Marc Shiner, told CBS 12 that investigators have the wrong man.
“They’re saying this 78-year-old man was able to do all these heinous things, and we look forward to investigating this and proving that he’s not guilty,” Shiner said.
No motive is yet known. Lowe remains behind bars without bail.
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[Feature Photo via Delray Police]
