Few details released in Cape Coral death investigation

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- Cape Coral police are remaining tight-lipped about the disappearance turned death investigation of a 58-year-old Cape Coral real estate investor.

While police have still not confirmed if the body of James Marshall has been found, Marshall’s friends are looking for answers.

Joe Lentini was devastated when he first heard his dear friend was likely dead after disappearing more than a week ago.

“I just broke, I just started bawling,” Lentini said. “He was a unique person, that’s the only way you can really describe him. He was so sweet, so nice, smiled all the time.”

Police arrested Marshall’s son, Matthew Marshall, on fraud charges for using his father’s credit card the day after he was last seen. However, he has not been named a suspect or person of interest in his father’s disappearance.

“With his son, using his credit card, he had his credit cards, wallet,” Lentin said. “This is something that has to be answered.”

James Marshall’s business partner, Robert Shemin, initially contacted authorities, worried when Marshall wasn’t answering phone calls or texts last Wednesday. Shemin says Marshall also failed to show up for a real estate conference in Los Angeles.

“Then we called the travel agent who said he missed his plane, which is never something he would ever do, and then we really got super concerned and that’s when I called the Cape Coral police and said ‘something’s really, really wrong,'” Shemin said.

Detectives found Marshall’s car late last week at an undisclosed location. Police have also been seen searching for clues at his condo over the past several days.

“I just wanna know why,” Lentini said. “I want questions answered.”