HASTINGS, Fla. – The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that two women were arrested in connection with the murder of Chad Mullen, who was found buried in St. Johns County in late October.
On Thursday, deputies obtained arrest warrants for Caylen Deller, 30, and Tina Marie Lee-Ellis, 30 in the murder of Mullen, according to the sheriff’s office.
Recommended Videos
Mullen was reported missing on Sept. 15, and he was found buried in rural St. Johns County on Oct. 28.
Soon after the body’s discovery, deputies named Deller a person of interest in the case.
On Friday afternoon, Putnam County deputies requested the community’s help to find Deller after they said she was supposed to arrive at an appointment in Volusia County and never showed up. Shortly after, deputies announced Deller had been arrested in Volusia County, near Edgewater.
Deller had been previously identified as Mullen’s on-again, off-again girlfriend. According to deputies, family members said Deller and Mullen were no longer dating at the time he was reported missing.
Mullen was last seen on Sept. 9 before traveling with Deller, to the area of 465 San Mateo Road in Satsuma, the location of her business. Mullen’s phone last pinged in that area.
The sheriff’s office, along with Mullen’s family, conducted several searches for him in the area around his house and his last known location.
“We were supposed to go to Texas to be with family. That’s when I was kind of like, ‘Okay, this is for real,’” Hollie Mullen, Chad’s daughter, told News4JAX. “At first it was just kind of unbelievable. I was just like, ‘He’s just going to come back.’”
Crime Stoppers of North East Florida along with the family of Mullen were offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to his whereabouts.
Deputies said throughout the case, the focus narrowed on Deller and Lee-Ellis.
On Oct. 1, deputies said they searched Lee-Ellis’ home on Pine Street in Satsuma and found firearms, ammunition and methamphetamine.
According to the sheriff’s office, Lee-Ellis was not in the home during the search and was arrested and charged on Oct. 21 with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine.
On Thursday evening, Lee-Ellis turned herself into the sheriff’s office in connection with Mullen’s murder. She was arrested and charged with accessory to first-degree murder after the fact.
Deller was charged with first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm.
Deputies said it is unclear how long the women knew each other and what was their relationship.
Hollie told News4JAX that she and her mother are going to make sure justice is served.
“He is such a lovable person as well so whoever did this is truly malicious and evil,” Hollie said. “He was my rock.”