Florida man accused of killing mom and burning body because she ‘wanted to be cremated’
A Florida man allegedly shot and killed his mother after years of built-up anger, then set her body on fire because she had said she wanted to be cremated, according to an arrest report.
George Beemer, 23, was arrested on Saturday and charged with 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 on Facebook.
Beemer called 911 from his Fort Myers home on Saturday to report that he was suffering from chest pain, and he was rushed to a hospital for medical evaluation.
But as he was being taken to the hospital, another 911 call came in about a fire at the same residence. Fire crews rushed to the scene and entered the home to extinguish the blaze, where they discovered the body of Beemer's mother, who was severely burned and deceased.
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Detectives then developed probable cause that Beemer shot the woman before intentionally setting the home on fire.
"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 admitted to detectives that he murdered his mother after years of built-up anger and set the home on fire because "she wanted to be cremated," according to a police report, WINK News reported.
He confessed to shooting his mother one time before pouring gasoline around her body and igniting it, according to the report.
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."
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.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the sheriff's office for additional information.
