Sanford police arrested a man on murder charges on Sunday after a body was found buried in a shallow grave near a homeless camp.
Charles Shannon Rhinehart, 46, has been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of destroying evidence in the death of Stephen Thomas, 51.
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Police said Thomas was last seen on July 13 at around 9 p.m. at a bar in Sanford and was reported missing the next day by family after not showing up for work. His truck was found abandoned in a parking lot on Keyes Court and police began a search of the area, including a nearby homeless camp where several of Thomas' acquaintances lived, according to police.
Rhinehart's son, Charles Shade Rhinehart, was interviewed, along with Christina Jordan.
On Sunday, a tip led investigators to Thomas' body, which was buried near the homeless camp. Police said witnesses reported that Thomas and Charles Shannon Rhinehart were in a fight when Thomas stabbed Rhinehart, who then hit Thomas in the head with a shovel several times as he walked away after being separated.
Police said Rhinehart then threw Thomas' cellphone and knife into the fire to try to destroy the evidence.
Rhinehart was arrested and booked into the Seminole County jail on no bond. Jordan, 33, and Charles Shade Rinehart, 18, were charged with accessory after the fact, a second-degree felony, after not telling police information on the incident.