Suspects in death of Buckingham man apprehended in Kansas

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FORT MYERS, Fla. — Three suspects in connection to the death of 58-year-old Buckingham man Ted Lee have been apprehended in Kansas and are awaiting extradition back to Lee County, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Jonathan Ruffini, 18, Tyson Hunter, 23, and a 14-year-old girl are all in custody. Lee was found dead by an employee of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church near a dumpster at the church on State Road 70 in Lakewood Ranch several hours after he was reported missing and in danger Thursday night, according to deputies.

The girl lived with Lee for years, neighbors said.

Neighbor Grant Davis told WINK News he saw two teenagers around Lee’s home on Thursday, the day before his body was found wrapped in carpet behind the church. Davis immediately suspected something was up, since Lee typically didn’t let anyone in his home, and he called 911 after he noticed Lee didn’t return home from work Thursday night.

A heavy police presence surrounded Lee’s home on Graytwig Lane on Friday.

“Justice knows no boundaries. In another high profile case, the dedicated men and women of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office has demonstrated once again that we will leave no stone unturned,” Sheriff Mike Scott said in a statement. “We will go wherever it takes us in our efforts for justice on behalf of our victims.”

Ruffini and Hunter are facing charges of second-degree murder, while the girl is facing a charge of having been an accessory, according to the sheriff’s office. All three are also facing charges of grand theft auto and fraudulent credit card use.

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