PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. – Brevard County sheriff's investigators are continuing an intensive inquiry into the discovery of two men found dead inside a Port St. John home late Tuesday.
Forensic agents streamed in and out of a Port St. John residence throughout Wednesday morning and afternoon, searching for clues and information that could lead investigators to find out just what happened at the Ackerman Avenue home. Agents were contacted initially Tuesday by one of the victim's brothers reporting that the two men were last seen on Friday on Merritt Island, and that they were missing, according to deputies.
Deputies identified the victims as Joseph Watt and Michael Johnson Jr., both 35 and of Merritt Island.
The Sheriff's Office said the initial evidence led detectives to believe the victims were targeted and the incident was drug related.
On Tuesday night, several witnesses, including some with flashlights, searched around the home and found the remains of the two men inside. A neighbor contacted the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
More than 12 hours passed before Brevard County sheriff’s agents released information about the deaths. Agents said later Wednesday that the trauma to the victims does indicate homicide, but the medical examiner's office will conduct autopsies to confirm that.
"It’s shocking, and it kind of creeps me out hearing that,” neighbor Joe Guarine said. “They were walking around with flashlights. I said, 'Anything going on?' and they said that they were relatives. Then they said, ‘Can you leave us alone? We've got to think this out.’"
Guarine, who’s lived in the neighborhood since 2002, said he then decided to call police. On Wednesday, a large section of Ackerman Avenue was blocked off by crime-scene tape.
Several patrol cars lined the street, and the sheriff’s mobile command center was also stationed at the site. A forensic agent focused on dusting down an Audi sport utility vehicle parked in the driveway. Other agents could be seen in disposable protective suits, walking in and out of the home.
Other neighbors said the area is typically quiet.
Watch News 6 and stay with ClickOrlando.com for more on this developing story.