A 44-year-old man faces second-degree murder charges after skeletal remains were unearthed in a hidden grave behind the Lee County Elections Center earlier this year, authorities announced.
Detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit arrested Gabriel Carlo Leon-Torres in connection with the homicide. In addition to second-degree murder, Leon-Torres faces a charge of tampering with physical evidence.
The case originated when deputies received a report of a missing person. Investigators later uncovered skeletal remains in March 2026 behind the elections facility. The medical examiner confirmed the remains belonged to the reported missing man and classified the manner of death as a homicide.
Leon-Torres has a prior criminal record that includes previous charges for kidnapping, sexual battery, and narcotics-related offenses, according to the sheriff’s office.
Officials noted that the Lee County Elections Center has no connection to the crime.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno praised the investigators involved and emphasized that work on the case is still underway.
“An arrest is a critical step, but this case is far from over,” Marceno said. “I want to recognize the Major Crimes Unit investigators who have worked relentlessly to uncover the truth, follow every lead, and build this case piece by piece. Their persistence, professionalism, and commitment to justice have been unwavering. We will not stop until every question is answered and the victim and his family receive the justice they deserve.”
Detectives are coordinating with the State Attorney’s Office to process evidence and follow remaining leads. Authorities stated additional updates will be provided as the investigation moves forward.
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