Polk County sheriff locates car in man's disappearance and death

LAKELAND, Fla. — As Polk County Sheriff's deputies continue to search for the body of 21-year-old Ethan Fussell, the car believed to be involved in his disappearance and murder has been found.

Sheriff Grady Judd provided an update Thursday afternoon during a brief Facebook live stream a day after announcing the car was missing. The car belongs to Talon Page, 25, who faces first-degree murder for Fussell's death.

“Well, the latest news is we found the silver Lexus,” Judd said in the livestream. Judd goes on to explain that a man drove the car to the Polk County Sheriff's Station and returned it.

“Do you know where we found it?” » Judd continued. “A guy drove it to one of our district stations and said, ‘Hey, I understand you’re looking for this car.’ So now we have it.”

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Fussell's body was not found inside the car.

“But what we really need is Ethan Fussell,” Judd said. “We need him returned to his family. Yes, we have every reason to believe he is dead. Please do not take him to the district police station – call us and we will come seek.”

Judd said those who wish to remain anonymous and be eligible for a $5,000 reward can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers.

The sheriff's office was looking for the 2000 silver Lexus 400 because they believed it was used to transport Fussell's body after it was wrapped in a rug and taken out of the mobile home where he and Page lived with his friend Adonai Rivera, 21 years old.

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Judd said Wednesday that Page and Rivera “violently” beat Fussell to death inside the Driggers Road home. Video evidence of the attack helped officers determine what happened, Judd said.