Arrest in connection with death of Stuart man found in woodland

The Martin County Sheriff's Office has made an arrest in connection with the death of a Stuart man whose body was found in a wooded area.

46-year-old Lori Beth Hart was arrested in connection with the death of 65-year-old Chester Smith.

The charges include falsification of evidence and failure to report a death.

The sheriff's office told WPTV on Thursday that it was conducting a homicide investigation near the 900 block of Southeast Darling Street around 11:30 a.m.

Hart was reportedly with another man at a Home Depot in Jensen Beach when the man she was with called police around 10 a.m. Thursday and told them where the body was.

Officers told WPTV that the woman confessed to “being involved in a fight with someone she knew” and shooting the man.

The MPs also say that the investigation is “in a very fragile state” and is still ongoing.

Hart is being held in the Martin County Jail on $2 million bail.

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