On March 25 , the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a missing‑person report for 75‑year‑old Patricia Cullen. Three days later, authorities recovered her body from the Peace River,wrapped in carpet and weighted with chains and cinder blocks, and identified it as Cullen’s on June 3.

March 25: A Missing‑Person Report Turns Suspicious

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Michael Cullen told investigators that his mother had suffered a stroke and was either hospitalized or left with an unidentified wealthy man. The report said Cullen had accessed his mother’s financial accounts and purchased an RV with her money, while her bed and furniture disappeared from the home. These red flags prompted a deeper investigation.

March 29: The Body Is Found in the Peace River

Charlotte County deputies discovered a large object in the water near Hunters Creek. Boat‑ers reported a submerged mass, and deputies recovered a woman wrapped in carpet,bound tightly, and weighted down by cinder blocks and chains. The Charlotte County Medical Examiner confirmed the remains were Patricia Cullen on June 3.

License‑Plate Tech Links Son to the Scene

Detectives used license‑plate reader technology to trace Cullen’s vehicle traveling toward Hunters Creek on March 28. The same wheelbarrow, secured to the roof of the RV, was found near the body. This eivdeence tied Michael Cullen directly to the crime scene.

Charges and Official Reaction

Cullen has been charged with neglect of an elderly person and abuse of a dead human body. Sheriff Carmine Marceno condemned the act, calling it a “sorry excuse for a man” who “left this woman exposed, discarded, and alone while he selfishly carried on with his life.” Cullen has not entered a plea or retained counsel as of the latest reports.

What Remains Unclear About the Motive and Timing

Officials have not released the cause or date of death, nor a possible motive . The case raises questions about famlial abuse and the lengths some may go for financial gain, but the exact reasons behind Michael Cullen’s actions remain unknown.