Arrests made in murders of three friends executed on Florida fishing trip

Police in Florida said Wednesday that they have arrested a man with 230 felonies, his girlfriend, and his brother for the triple murder of three friends who were on their way to a fishing trip.

Tony "T.J." Wiggins, 26; Mary Whittenmore, 27; and Robert Whiggins, 21, have been charged in the deaths of Damion Tillman, 23; Kevin Springfield, 30; and Brandon Rollins, 27, who were killed in Frostproof, Florida, on Friday night.

Robert Wiggins told detectives that he watched as his brother, TJ, shoot all three victims multiple times. 

Law enforcement described T.J. Wiggins as "mean," "wild," and "violent." The 26-year-old was arrested for the first time when he was just 12. 

It's unclear what was a motive for the deadly attack.

Whittenmore and Robert Wiggins have been charged with acting as accessories to murder and tampering with evidence.

T.J. Wiggins has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, in addition to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. 

Whittenmore, and the Wiggins brothers were found Monday in two travel trailers, alongside several rifles and rounds of ammunition.

“This is evil in the flesh,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “This is a guy who can hurt you just because it’s the right thing for him to do at that moment in time with his three brain cells.”

He continued,“We pray that the state attorney can seek the death penalty. He needs to receive a fair trial, the appropriate appeals and then be executed. And you know what? Legally, we can’t execute him like he did those three guys who were just trying to fish on Friday night, nor would we suggest that the system be as barbaric as his conduct toward our three victims.”