Murder suspect extradited to Manatee County in connection with man found in car trunk

PALMETTO, Fla. (WWSB) – One of the suspects in the death of a man found in the trunk of a car in Palmetto has been extradited to Manatee County.

Idus Murkerson, 20, was arrested last week in Santa Rosa County in connection with the death of Manuel Escobar.

Palmetto Police officers were on patrol in the Palmetto Estuary Nature Preserve on Sunday, August 25, when they found a male victim, later identified as Manuel Escobar, dead in the trunk of a car with multiple gunshot wounds.

After investigation, they found that Escobar had been shot at a second location in the 2800 block of 5th Street. His body was later dumped at the first crime scene.

Investigators followed clues that led them to Freddy Sandoval, 25.

According to the affidavit of Freddy Sandoval, one of the two suspects arrested in connection with the murder of 32-year-old Manuel Escobar, a video shows two men helping the gunman place Escobar's body in the trunk of the car.

The court documents refer to a message thread between Sandoval and Escobar in which it was “clear” that Sandoval owed Escobar $2,000. That thread also showed that Sandoval had set up a drug deal between Escobar and another man that resulted in Escobar being shot.

The document states: “Freddy asked the victim to come to him because his mother had just fallen asleep and he did not have his vehicle with him. At 11:01 p.m., Freddy instructed the victim to park next door and not in front of his house because otherwise the cameras would see him.”

The affidavit goes on to say that when Escobar reached the house, a man approached him and “shot at least three times, killing the victim.”

“The victim is seen dead on video. Two other men join the shooter and quickly place the victim's body in the trunk. One of the men flees on foot and two of the men drive away in a vehicle,” the document states.

Sandoval told officers that the shooter had instructed him to help him put the body in the trunk.

“The shooter then instructed Freddy to get in the driver's seat and drive away from the house. Freddy then drove to the location where they left the victim's vehicle and the victim in the trunk. Freddy then texted his mother's boyfriend and asked him to give him a ride,” the document states.

The affidavit stated that during the execution of the search warrant, the victim's car keys were found in Sandoval's backyard.

Sandoval has entered a written plea of ​​not guilty.

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