Lakeland Woman Charged In Orange Grove Murder

LAKELAND, FL -- A 28-year-old Lakeland woman has been arrested in the murder of a 21-year-old man who was found shot to death in an Alturas orange grove Thursday by grove workers, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Heather Tyler of Pirates Way was charged with first-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Joseph Witherington. The sheriff's office said Tyler admitted to shooting Witherington and leaving his body in a blue Hyundai Kia.

"Tyler gave detectives several versions of events from inside the Kia that evening, but the evidence and witness statements confirm that she shot him in the head while he was driving," said Carrie Horstman of the Polk County Sheriff's Office. "She shot him again after the vehicle came to a stop. She then took his wallet and fled the scene, leaving her shoes behind, and burned her clothes that had his blood on them. She did not give detectives a clear motive for the killing."

Horstman said investigators found Tyler's flip flops nearby. In addition to murder, she was also charged with tampering with evidence and grand theft of a firearm. Tyler was booked into the Polk County Jail late Friday, where she was being held without bail.

"Regardless of Heather's many reasons and excuses, we know that she executed Joseph Witherington by shooting him in the back of the head while he was driving down a dirt road between orange groves," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "Clearly, the evidence, witnesses, and her admissions confirm that she committed cold-blooded, first-degree murder."

The orange grove where Witherington was found is located off Mud Lake Road near 80 Foot Road.

"Once the vehicle came to a stop, the decedent was incapacitated," arrest documents explained. "Heather Tyler exited the vehicle, opened the front passenger's side door, pointed a handgun at the decedent's head and shot him a second time. Heather Tyler made a conscious decision to shoot the decedent a second time although he was incapacitated from the first gunshot wound to the head."

Horstman said Witherington's body was found in the driver's seat of the Kia. "Detectives processed the scene, and received tips and leads, which led them to Heather Tyler, who admitted to detectives that the flip flops were hers and that she was with Witherington during that time frame."

According to Horstman, Tyler told detectives that Witherington arrived at her house on March 27 in the Kia. The car belonged to his friend.

"After hanging out for a few hours, they drove to a local convenience store, and eventually out to 80 Foot Road in Alturas," said Horstman.

To report a tip and be eligible for a reward, call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 800-226-TIPS (8477), or submit the tip via the website or mobile app.