MALABAR, Fla. – Dozens of volunteers including friends, neighbors and Malabar firefighters, are digging through what's left of a large, burned Atz Road home to salvage items for surviving family members.
The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said 39-year-old Tony Hughes murdered his wife, 39-year-old Chrissy Hughes; her sister Linda Woods; and his 9-year-old stepson, Sebastian Meachum, at the secluded 3,000-square-foot house on Sunday.
Deputies said Tony Hughes then set the house on fire and made a run for it, boating 7 miles off the coast of Sebastian Inlet before his boat was discovered by the Coast Guard.
Deputies said blood was found on the boat but no one was onboard.
Volunteers began sorting through the debris of the Malabar home on Tuesday and returned to the site Thursday.
"They came out here on their own. They wanted to help," Malabar Fire Chief Leonard Thomassen said of the community members who stepped up. "It's a matter of trying to send closure to the family."
Family member Heather McGuire traveled to the house from Arkansas, where most surviving members of the family live.
"I didn't expect it to be this bad, unimaginable," McGuire said after surveying the debris.
McGuire, who is the aunt of 20-year-old Alexis McGuire, the daughter of victim Chrissy Hughes, told News 6 she was amazed at the outpouring of local support.
"It's amazing how everyone has pulled together to help Alexis," she said. "She didn't have any other family here so it's a great deal that people came out to support her."
Alexis McGuire is accepting donations through a GoFundMe account to help pay for the funerals.
The account has surpassed $15,000 since News 6 first reported on the family asking for help.
Thomassen said 15 of his firefighters have volunteered to help salvage belongings since cleanup began Tuesday.
The chief said his crew will continue to help as long as the family wants to keep digging through the wreckage.
Deputies told News 6 Thursday while the Coast Guard has called off its search for suspect Tony Hughes' body, the investigation will continue.
"You always have to look at the possibility that he has gone into hiding somewhere," Tod Goodyear, of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, said about the chances of Hughes being alive. "All I can say is we're doing everything we can. If he were to be found alive, we'll be able to prosecute him."
Heather McGuire told News 6 because Hughes has not been found, she fears he may have escaped.
"I think he might be alive if they haven't found anything thus far," she said. "I didn't like him very well. I didn't think he was a nice man."