PALM BAY, Fla. – Police in Palm Bay arrested a man they say dumped the body of a woman who disappeared in 2023.
Stefan Eide, 32, was arrested Thursday in connection with the disappearance of 25-year-old Marissa Garcia.
According to the arrest affidavit, Garcia was seen by an acquaintance getting into a silver pickup truck with a dirt bike mounted in the back on Dec. 23, 2023, in the area of Pinewood Drive Northeast in Palm Bay.
Police spent a year investigating the disappearance until they tracked down Eide, who owned the truck.
[WATCH: Palm Bay police looking for woman last seen in December (from 2024)]
Eide initially denied knowing Garcia, but according to the report, he eventually admitted that he picked Garcia up and took her to Max Rodes Park, where they had sex. Eide told police that Garcia began convulsing and then became unresponsive, as well as that he found what he believed to be narcotics in her purse, the report states.
According to the report, Eide told police he left her body in his car for several hours until he left it in the area of Hammock Road and Cuyler Street in Mims. The report says Garcia’s remains were never found.
Eide is facing charges of tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, illegal transportation of human remains, improper disposal of human remains, and soliciting prostitution.
The Brevard County jail Friday said Eide posted his bond totaling more than $30,000.
Garcia’s friend Jaime Deabay told Palm Bay Community Correspondent James Sparvero Eide should have called help.
“He could have called 911, and her kids could still have her or her mom could sleep at night,” Deabay said.
The friend told Sparvero the family will conduct its own search next week for Garcia’s remains after police couldn’t find them around Hammock Road.
“It’s finally gonna happen. We’re gonna get justice,” Deabay said. “Her babies are gonna have justice.”