by Mark Schumann • Indian River County, Vero Beach
NEWS RELEASE
Detectives with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office have identified the deceased man as Eric Deffendall (42) of Vero Beach. Tonight, Mark Deffendall (39) is being charged with the homicide of his brother. Father, Rex Deffendall, left both Eric and Mark home around 10:30 A.M. and returned around 2:30 P.M. to find Eric dead of gunshot wounds and no sign of Mark. After a long day of investigation, detectives determined that a fight between the brothers erupted near the hangar in the rear of the family home.
Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Detective Lieutenant Anthony Consalo stated, “It appears the fight continued into the residence, both upstairs and down. The fight ended near the front door with numerous gunshots to the head and body of Eric Deffendall.”
Mark Deffendall was later located at Indian River Medical Center where he was treated for several superficial wounds. Mark was transported to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office where detectives spent several hours speaking with him. At this time, detectives are charging him with killing his brother, however specific charges were not immediately available. Mark Deffendall will be held without bond until his first appearance in the morning.
Indian River County Sheriff Dery Loar stated, “Our hearts go out to the friends and family of Eric Deffendall tonight. It is difficult losing a loved one and even worse when another family member is involved.”
Original Sheriff’s Office Press Release
Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Detectives and Crime Scene personnel are on scene in the 8500 block of De Havilland Court in Vero Beach. De Havilland Court is in the area commonly referred to as the Aerodrome. Deputies responded to the scene and discovered what is currently being called a suspicious death. More information will be released as it becomes available.
Anyone with information or who may have witnessed anything is encouraged to contact Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-TIPS (8477). By contacting Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers, you can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
http://insidevero.com
http://florida.arrests.org
Mark Eugene Deffendall
Picture by Indian River County Sheriff's Office
The deadly shooting happened at a home on the 8500 block of De Haviland Court.
Investigators suspect 42-year old Eric Deffendall was shot by his younger brother, 39-year-old Mark Deffendall.
Investigators said the two men live at the home with their father.
Investigators believe the two brothers may have been fighting outside the home sometime later Sunday morning or early Sunday afternoon.
Investigators said the fight likely moved inside the home, where they say Eric Deffendall was shot numerous times in the chest.
"One of the brothers obviously picked up a firearm and possibly shot the other brother," Indian River County Sheriff's Office Lt. Tony Consalo said.
Lt. Consalo said the men's father, Rex Deffendall, returned home from shopping around 3 p.m. and found Eric in the living room with the gunshot wounds.
Consalo says EMS arrived to the home and pronounced Eric dead.
Meanwhile, Consalo says Mark's truck was gone and he was nowhere to be found.
Consalo says an alert was sent out to locate Mark, who was eventually found at the Indian River Memorial Hospital receiving stitches for injuries that appeared to be from a fight.
Neighbors who knew the brothers say they are stunned.
Consalo says friends of the Deffendall family said the brothers would occasionally fight, but never believed the tension would escalate to this level.
"They said they have a good relationship, typical brother relationship. You know, brothers argue at times," Consalo explained.
Investigators are still trying to determine a motive.
They said they are not looking for any other persons of interest.
Mark Deffendall is charged with first-degree murder.
- Source: http://www.wptv.com
Deputies responded about 2:30 p.m. to the home of Rex Deffendall and his two sons, Mark and Eric Deffendall, in the 8500 block of De Havilland Court at the Aerodrome, a residential subdivision with a landing strip west of Vero Beach.
Sheriff’s Lt. Tony Consalo said Eric Deffendall was found dead in the home by his father about 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Police said his brother, Mark, is a person of interest.
About 6 p.m. Consalo said detectives had tracked Mark Deffendall and “believe they know his location. Detectives will be speaking with him shortly."
Consalo said Rex Deffendall and a female friend left the home about 10:30 a.m. to go shopping in the area near the Vero Beach Outlets. When he left, his two sons were alone in the home.
When he returned, Rex Deffendall found his 42-year-old son Eric dead, with four gunshot wounds, Consalo said. No gun was found at the scene.
His body was found on the floor of the first-floor family room, Consalo told Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers.
Deputies put out a bulletin for Mark Deffendall’s vehicle, Consalo said, and an off-duty sheriff’s deputy working a detail at the Indian River Medical Center saw his name on the patient list and found the vehicle at the medical center.
Consalo said Mark Deffendall had “some injuries indicating he had been in a physical altercation but not a gunshot.”
As for motive, Consalo said Rex Deffendall said “brothers argue sometimes.”
Late Sunday afternoon, crime tape surrounded the home in the quiet neighborhood. One door of the four-car garage was open and a white Honda with the trunk open was inside.
Neighbor Jack Fisher said all three Deffendalls live in the home. He said Mark Deffendall is a pilot who is studying to be a commercial pilot. Eric Deffendall owned a trucking company.
Rex Deffendall declined to comment late Sunday afternoon, telling Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers only, “We can’t talk.”
Fisher said Rex and Mark Deffendall build experimental aircraft at the home.
A blue-and-white dump truck was parked next to the house. Behind the house is an airplane hanger.
Neighbor Buddy Marks, who lives across the street, said he saw the family’s plane was up in the air sometime this morning.
Sources:
http://www.wptv.com
http://www.tcpalm.com
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