A man from Palm Harbor, Florida, aged 37, faces charges of second-degree murder following the fatal beating of another man in a dispute concerning a car that wasn’t returned on time. The incident has left the local community in shock, highlighting a grave outcome from an argument that spiraled into violence.

The accused, Matthew Weldon, was apprehended after 49-year-old Carroll Bryan was found dead. Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, after a neighbor reported that Weldon had confessed to murder.

Upon arrival at the scene, authorities found Weldon drenched in blood. He allegedly told deputies, “He is dead,” and directed them to his residence. Inside, they found Bryan on the back patio, suffering severe injuries to his head, neck, and arm. Bryan was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigative reports indicate that Weldon and Bryan had encountered each other at a local bar in Clearwater, Florida, two weeks before the incident. Their relationship seemed cordial at first, with Weldon consenting to lend his car to Bryan approximately a week before the incident. However, their relationship soured when Bryan failed to return the vehicle as agreed.

“Bryan did not return the vehicle when he agreed to, and Weldon became upset,” the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office press release noted. A dispute ignited between the two men upon Bryan’s return of the car on May 21. Detectives suspect that Bryan was on the back patio when Weldon attacked him from behind. Bryan was then repeatedly assaulted while lying on the ground, which led to his lethal injuries.

A neighbor described the moment when Weldon admitted to the crime. “He came to my door, covered in blood, and said he had killed someone. I immediately called 911,” the neighbor stated.

In his initial court appearance, Weldon declared that he could not afford a lawyer despite living in a nearly $2 million house. Public records show that the property is held in a trust. Weldon communicated to the judge his need for a public defender, stating, “I don’t have any money of my own.”

The judge inquired about Weldon’s financial assets during the hearing, including cash, stocks, and bonds. Weldon replied, “Unfortunately, no.” He also mentioned owning two cars, including a Jaguar, but declared that they were of low value and still under financing.

The neighborhood was startled by the incident. “This is a very quiet neighborhood. Very quiet, so [it’s] very strange,” said Jana Joyner, a nearby resident. Peg Mahara, a 45-year resident, reflected this sentiment: “I’ve been here 45 years. I’ve been here a long time, and there’s never been anything like this.”

The investigation into the incident by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is ongoing as they attempt to piece together the events leading to Bryan’s death. Weldon, who suffered minor injuries in the confrontation, remains detained at the Pinellas County Jail without bail.