Police arrest man at Charlotte County home with mom’s dead body inside

A man was arrested Friday afternoon in Charlotte County after deputies say they found him in a home with his mother’s decomposing body.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Justin D. Carver, 36, was arrested and faces charges of failing to report a death to a medical examiner and resisting an officer without violence after deputies went to a home in the 29000 block of Turbak Drive near Highway 17 around 5 p.m.

Deputies were originally called to the home for a wellness check. They found his mother, 55-year-old Layni Carver dead inside. CCSO says the death was not a homicide.

According to a probable cause affidavit from CCSO, Carver “exited the residence, and immediately closed the door behind him” after deputies knocked on a window. When they told him they were there for a wellness check, Carver told them he “had spoken to the person at the home earlier in the week, unknown exact date, but had not seen her since that last conversation. Then, automatically volunteered that during that conversation permitted to be at the residence.”

Deputies say Carver acted evasively before telling them he accessed the home through the west side door which is not secure due to a previous incident. He then showed deputies how he entered the home.

Once deputies went inside, they found the deceased woman.

The report stated Carver admitted to deputies “upon finding her he noticed that she was deceased. Justin was asked when this was, and he indicated approximately two days ago (Wednesday).”

A search of jail records showed Carver had been arrested in the past on drug charges and within the past couple of years on battery charges.

Carver is in the Charlotte County Jail.