Investigators say love triangle may have led to Orange County man’s death

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Channel 9 is learning more about the suspects accused of murdering an Orange County man who was reported missing last week.

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A judge denied bond for Johnny Wesley and Lashawn Triplett on Sunday.

Deputies arrested them after finding Melvin Wilcox’s body in the trunk of his car.

Detectives said the suspects didn’t want Wilcox to know that they were dating, a secret they’d still have if Wilcox didn’t catch them out on a date.

READ: Couple arrested after death of Orange County man denied bond in court

Investigators said the love triangle may have led to Wilcox’s death.

Triplett is Wilcox’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child. Wesley was Wilcox’s friend.

An arrest report shows that Wesley and Triplett are currently dating, and they hid their relationship from Wilcox for about a year until last week, when Wilcox ran into them at a fair.

Orange County deputies said surveillance video links Wesley and Triplett to Wilcox’s murder.

READ: 2 arrested after missing Orange County man found dead in trunk of his car, deputies say

The video shows Wesley paid Wilcox a visit last week, the last time Wilcox was seen alive.

Investigators said they found Wilcox’s blood on furniture, walls, doors and the floor at a home on Elon Drive.

The body of Wilcox, who had been shot, was found in the truck of his car, parked at a pharmacy in Pine Hills.

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Wesley and Triplett are in the Orange County Jail, where they will remain on no bond.

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