Disturbing body camera footage shows the moment a Florida man was confronted by police after they discovered the decomposing body of his mother in her home during a welfare check.
Justin Carver, 36, was arrested for failing to report the death of his mother, Layni Carver, 55, who had filed a no-contact order against her son in the weeks before his death.
Cops were called to Carver’s home in Punta Gorda on May 5 to conduct a welfare check after Layni’s family became concerned that they couldn’t get in touch.
When cops arrived, they found her son at the property and asked him if he had seen his mother lately.
After initially denying that he knew where she was and claiming he had locked himself and the officers out, Carver eventually allowed police into the home.
Justin Carver was arrested by police in Florida after they discovered the decomposing body of his mother in her home when they went for a welfare check.
Once inside, officers found the bloated and decomposing body of his mother. Police later confirmed they detected a ‘foul smell’ coming from the property, which raised suspicions.
In the video, officers from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office can be seen approaching the Carver home.
After knocking repeatedly, they leave the scene and return as Carver exits the house and closes the door behind him.
An officer asks: ‘Did you hear us knocking before or were you knocked out?’
Carver replied that he was sleeping before sitting down and taking a drink from a glass he had brought with him.
The cops say they are looking for his mother and he claims he hasn’t seen her in a few weeks.
As they continue their questioning, Carver sits hunched over, arms folded and gaze averted.
One of the officers says: ‘I just want to make sure mum isn’t being put away in a cupboard or something bad.’
Justin Carver lied to police, telling them he hadn’t seen his mother for several weeks and didn’t know her whereabouts when he lived next to her body, according to the footage
Police became suspicious after they smelled a ‘foul smell’ from the house and Justin Carver became evasive during questioning
Carver says he can’t stop the police and starts ushering them in before claiming he locked the door behind him and doesn’t have keys.
The officer asked him: ‘Do you understand what it looks like right?’
Carver finally reveals that he is not meant to be at the property due to the no-contact order, but the police assure him that he is not in trouble and they just want to check on his mother.
Finally he relents and begins to lead the police to another door which he removes from its hinges to allow entry.
The moment the officer lays his eyes on the body is edited into the footage and it cuts to the other officer talking to Carver outside and asking if he is sure his mother is not in the house.
His colleague who found the body then came forward in disbelief and asked: ‘Are you going to tell me you didn’t know mum was in there?’
He motions for Carver who stands up and immediately submits to being handcuffed.
They then start questioning Carver who tells them he discovered his mother two days ago.
Layni Carver took out a no contact order against her son in the weeks before her death
“I smelled her before you were even outside and you’re going to tell me mom isn’t there when you know damn well where she was, so you lied,” said one officer.
His colleague adds: ‘Why don’t you just tell us the truth, we told you from the start we weren’t there for you, we just wanted to make sure mum was ok, that’s all, so what prompted you to lie to us? ‘
They ask if he realized his mother was dead when he discovered her and he nods.
When asked why he didn’t call law enforcement at that point, Carver replied, ‘I don’t know.’
Carver was arrested and charged with failing to report a death to a medical examiner and a nonviolent resistance officer.
Details about the circumstances of his mother’s death are pending an autopsy and toxicology report.
“The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office takes incidents of this nature seriously and is committed to ensuring justice is served,” said Sheriff Bill Prummell. ‘We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the deceased during this difficult time.’
Moment cops in Punta Gorda, Florida, confront Justin Carver and find the remains of his mother inside the home
