Grand jury indicts Brevard County man accused of killing wife

Brian Estep, 42, charged with 1st-degree premeditated murder

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A grand jury on Tuesday formally charged a Brevard County man accused of killing his wife earlier this year.

Brian Estep, 42, was indicted on a first-degree premeditated murder charge in the death of his wife Amber Estep, 39, who went missing in January and was later found dead in the woods off State Road 46 in Mims.

Sheriff’s officials said he shot and killed Amber Estep during an argument over an alleged affair.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey said Amber Estep was reported missing on Jan. 19 by her mother when she didn’t show up for work for several shifts. Investigators learned she was last seen by her husband on Jan. 16, and she was later found dead off State Road 46 near Pit Bull Lane on Saturday, Jan. 20.

Brian Estep’s son, 18-year-old Lane Estep, was also arrested and accused of burning his dad’s pickup truck in the woods in Port St. John to destroy evidence.

News 6 reporter James Sparvero learned that Amber worked with a man at a hotel named Jerry Brown. Brown said he and Amber were not more than friends.

Brown is believed to be the last person to see Amber alive in January. He said he was driving when he saw the couple, and Brian Estep lost his temper.

“You could visibly tell he was screaming and yelling at her pointing at my truck,” Brown said. “I looked at my buddy who was riding beside me and I was like, ‘Hey man, that’s the guy I was telling you about from work that’s accusing me of stuff with his wife.”

Last month, the father and son duo appeared in court, where they entered written pleas of not guilty.


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About the Author

Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday.

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