Scott: ‘Gruesome’ crime scene inside Lee County apartment

FORT MYERS, Fla. – In what Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott described as a “gruesome” crime scene, a woman, her two daughters and a family pet were found dead inside an apartment early Sunday morning.

Patrick Sean Carlopoli, 27, of 15224 Iona Lakes Drive, is charged with second-degree murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse and one count of felony animal cruelty.

Carlopoli remained in the Lee County jail Monday under no bond.

Carlopoli has not been charged with killing the two children, said Scott, who did not release a motive in the killings.

“I often tell people when I speak publicly that we’re in the business of whatever happens next,” Scott said during a Monday morning press conference. “And whatever happens next is many times unpredictable, unpreventable, and frankly unthinkable. The events of early Sunday morning were all of the above, with an underscore on unthinkable.”

Deputies arrived at the Iona Lakes Drive apartment after Carlopoli contacted emergency dispatchers at about 4:15 a.m.

“Patrick had visible blood splatter on his body and clothing,” an arrest report said. “Patrick told deputies ‘they are in there,’ pointing inside the residence…deputies detained Patrick, who made a spontaneous utterance that he shot his wife.”

Tammy Modlin, 37, and Montana Modlin, 16, were found shot on the bed inside the master bedroom. A firearm was found between them, the report said. Carlopoli and Tammy Modlin were not married, but dating, Scott said.

The bodies of Jeanne Carlopoli, 3, and the family dog were found stabbed to death.

Jeanne’s fourth birthday is Feb. 28.

Montana is Patrick Carlopoli’s step-daughter, and Jeanne is the daughter of Carlopoli and Modlin, Scott said.

Neighbors regretful

Leslie Hansen was regretful when hearing about the killings.

She would see Jeanne Carlopoli looking through one of the windows every time she walked by.

“She was a beautiful little child and innocent and she didn’t deserve what happened to her,” she said.

Hansen said she felt slightly responsible for what happened because it appeared Jeanne needed help when she looked through the window recently.

“She looked like there was something wrong,” she said. “She was always in the same pajamas, her hair was never combed. Looked dirty.”

Hansen wished someone would’ve called to help.

“I know a lot of us thought about it,” she said. “I don’t know why none of us did but maybe if we had, she would still be alive.”

Modlin and Patrick Carlopoli met in late 2010, said Carlopoli’s sister, Marianne, who described their relationship as “having issues.”

Marianne Carlopoli cried after a reporter told her about her brother and his alleged crimes.

Investigators will remain at the apartment on Monday to further process the crime scene, Scott said.

“There’s a lot of details and it’s a complicated scene,” Scott said. “It’s a lot to process.”