A Florida man is accused of fatally shooting his mother after what investigators described as years of mounting anger, then setting her body on fire because she had once said she wanted to be cremated, according to an arrest report.
George Beemer, 23, was taken into custody Saturday and faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree arson and abuse of a dead human body in connection with his mother’s death, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook statement.
Authorities said Beemer initially called 911 from his Fort Myers residence on Saturday, reporting that he was having chest pain. He was then transported to a hospital for a medical evaluation.
While he was being taken for treatment, however, dispatchers received a separate 911 call reporting a fire at the same home. Firefighters responded, went inside to put out the flames and found Beemer’s mother dead, with severe burns, officials said.
George Beemer is accused of shooting and killing his mother before setting her on fire because she “wanted to be cremated.” (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators later established probable cause to believe Beemer had shot the woman before deliberately setting the house on fire, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Major Crimes detectives, Crime Scene investigators, and our partners with the fire service immediately recognized that something wasn’t right. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and relentless investigative work ensured a swift arrest was made,” Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement.
Beemer later told detectives he killed his mother after years of pent-up anger and ignited the fire because “she wanted to be cremated,” according to a police report cited by WINK News.
He confessed to shooting his mother one time before pouring gasoline around her body and igniting it, according to the report.
George Beemer was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree arson and abuse of a dead human body. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
Detectives said Beemer claimed his mother had mistreated him for years, including molesting him. He told detectives that he had finally had enough.
But a friend of his mother said the allegations of abuse are false.
“There’s absolutely no way,” the friend told WINK News. “No, no, absolutely never, never, no. I can’t buy it. I will never buy it. He’s using it as a defense mechanism to think that there’s any remote chance that this was justified.”
Beemer’s former classmate, Madison Edwards, told the outlet she was shocked when she heard the news of the arrest.
“We were just completely shocked,” Edwards said. “I wasn’t surprised that he ended up in jail. I was just very surprised as to the reason why.”
George Beemer confessed to shooting his mother one time before pouring gasoline around her body and igniting it. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
Beemer is being held at the Lee County Jail.
The incident remains under investigation.
“My prayers remain with the victim and loved ones as they begin to process this unimaginable tragedy. They deserve answers, and we will continue working tirelessly to provide them,” the sheriff said.
INC News has reached out to the sheriff’s office for additional information.
