A 32-year-old Florida woman faces first-degree murder charges after allegedly shooting her boyfriend while he slept, dismembering his body in a bathtub, and burying the parts in their yard. The incident occurred amid an argument at their home in Fountain, where the victim's father also lived. Authorities uncovered human remains consistent with her confession.
Ashley Otero Averett, 32, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with first-degree premeditated murder in the death of her 38-year-old boyfriend, Joseph Martin Eiler. According to a Bay County Sheriff's Office affidavit, the events unfolded during an ongoing argument on the night of March 11 into March 12 at their home on Creek Haven Road in Fountain, Florida. The couple shared the residence with two small children, one fathered by Eiler, and Eiler's father lived on the same property. Eiler's father reported hearing an argument around 4 a.m. on March 12, including his son crying out after being struck with a flashlight, followed by what sounded like gunshots. He reported Eiler missing on March 14 after he failed to appear for work. Averett initially claimed Eiler had left with a friend after their dispute. Suspicion grew when the father observed her burning items in a firepit, asking about disposing of ashes, and noted fresh dirt in the yard, repeated laundry, missing bedding, and a visible firearm. A family member told deputies Averett had confessed to the killing. In a post-Miranda interview, Averett admitted shooting Eiler twice in the back with a .380 caliber pistol while he slept, then attempting to dismember him in the bathtub using a hatchet and knife. She buried the body parts in multiple yard locations using a gray tote and bought cleaning supplies to erase evidence. Authorities found human remains in disturbed yard areas and noted she had spray-painted 'Joe I love you' on a nearby storage box. Bay County Sheriff's Capt. Jason Daffin stated the family called 911 to protect the children, not to aid Averett. She is held without bond in Bay County Jail.