BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Brevard County deputies arrested a man last month, accused of killing his wife, some weeks after his pickup truck was found ablaze in Port St. John. That man’s son was arrested on Tuesday, accused of setting the vehicle on fire, according to the sheriff’s office.
Lane Estep, 18, faces charges of second-degree arson, accessory after the fact to a capital felony, and tampering with evidence relating to a capital offense, records show.
Brian Estep, Lane’s father, was arrested on March 28 in West Virginia to face a charge of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Amber Renee Estep, 39, who was found dead on Jan. 20 off State Road 46 in Mims after her mother reported her missing the day prior.
According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Brian Estep had initially been cooperative in the investigation. His neighbors in Port St. John had even reported seeing him at his home as recently as Jan. 26, yet as Sheriff Wayne Ivey noted in a video statement, an investigation of the burning truck and the alleged inconsistencies therein had already begun.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
“Within several hours after our agents interviewed Estep, his pickup truck was found in Port St. John completely engulfed in flames,” Ivey said in January, adding that Amber had last been seen by Brian Estep on Jan. 16.
The couple had been arguing after a medical appointment, leading to Brian Estep allegedly dropping her off along Interstate 95, just north of State Road 50, after “she requested to be let out of the vehicle,” Ivey relayed at the time.
The following month, Ivey was announcing Brian Estep’s arrest, speaking in another video statement to describe grisly details that the investigation into Amber Renee Estep’s death had since reportedly uncovered.
“Estep stated that he had accused Amber of having extramarital affairs with multiple men and that Amber slapped his face and told him to let her out of the vehicle near mile marker 15,” Ivey said.
According to Ivey, Amber Renee Estep had severe head trauma and was shot multiple times. Through search warrants, blood was found which matched Amber’s in an area in the woods known as the “Black Hole,” Ivey said.
“Further information demonstrated that Estep moved Amber’s body from the ‘Black Hole’ under the cover of darkness and then drove her around northern Brevard and southern Volusia counties until he later discarded her remains where she was ultimately discovered off of State Route 46 in Mims,” Ivey said. “...Despite Brian Estep’s fabricated alibi, his attempts to destroy crucial evidence and just the disgusting evil in his heart, our BCSO agents and crime scene investigators were able to directly connect him to Amber’s murder so that justice can be served and her family can hopefully have closure in her death.”
Brian Estep was in West Virginia because he had since moved there, Ivey said. Regarding the truck, the sheriff told News 6 Reporter James Sparvero that he thinks Brian Estep was trying to get away with killing his wife.
“I think he wasn’t only trying to get away with murder, I think he was trying to get away from everything that could connect him to that murder,” the sheriff said.
Brian Estep was held without bond in West Virginia until his extradition to Brevard County, which was completed Wednesday night.
Returning to the case of Lane Estep, investigators said he was at the scene of the fire on Jan. 19, claiming he only wanted to take photos of the burning truck. Firefighters noted that Lane Estep appeared unconcerned and insisted that a recall caused the fire.
Come Jan. 29, a search of the truck’s VIN revealed no mandatory or fire-related recalls of the vehicle, a 2021 Nissan Titan, the sheriff’s office said. This was six days after a red gas container was located about 40 feet from the vehicle, testing positive for the presence of gasoline, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators spoke with Lane Estep on Jan. 31, who claimed he had used his father’s truck to take his side-by-side out in the woods with some friends before the fire began. Brian Estep would further confirm he had given his son permission to use his truck on the night of the fire, the affidavit states.
March 20, when investigators contacted Lane Estep for a written statement, the teen said he had moved to West Virginia and would not be back in Florida, according to the affidavit.
March 22, investigators said they contacted one of Lane Estep’s friends. This friend recounted that after the truck fire, Lane Estep told him he “Lit a wick,” going on to say his father Brian Estep at one point stated, “I feel like my ship is sinking,” to which Lane allegedly replied, “I got my life preservers for us,” according to the affidavit.
The friend said that Lane Estep told him he had gone out in his father’s truck the night of the fire to pull someone out who had gotten stuck, otherwise noting it was odd that Lane was driving his father’s truck at all. Further, the manager of Lane Estep’s workplace said he had called out the night of the fire regarding a “family emergency,” the affidavit states.
Investigators deemed the truck fire was an arson, incendiary based on multiple points of origin, according to the affidavit.
Lane Estep was to be held at the Brevard County Jail on no bond pending his first appearance in court, records show. On Wednesday, Judge Kelly Ingram kept Estep in jail on a no-bond status. He’s due back in court on May 30.
“These charges stem from a murder,” the judge said. “That is very concerning to me.”
The Esteps’ neighbors in Port St. John said they knew Lane by his nickname, “Bubba”.
“I met him about two years ago when I first moved down here through a party scene in the woods,” Jessica Cody said, describing the “Black Hole.” “It’s a place where just a lot of people go, drink and jam out with their trucks and stuff.”
Amber Estep’s uncle, Jeff Matheny, made a reference to Lane in a statement he read on behalf of the victim’s family members.
“She took care of your kids, Brian, who in return tried to cover up the evil he chose to do,” Matheny said. “Amber deserves full justice.”
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: