Authorities have arrested three people and are looking for a fourth woman in connection with the murder of a Haines City man over the week-end.
31-year-old Christopher M. Batchelor and 45-year-old John Wesley Barrett, both of Winter Haven, were arrested Tuesday, after investigators say, they beat and killed 36-year-old Homero Arteaga. Arteaga’s body was found by his mother when she went to check on him at his home at 421 North 21st Street, after not hearing from him in a few days.
25-year-old Jenny L. Holmes, of Bartow was also arrested and investigators are looking for the fourth suspect, Dana Wise, 39, who remains at large.
Batchelor, Barrett and Holmes told detectives that together they planned to rob Arteaga in his home. The two women, Holmes and Wise, drove Batchelor and Barrett into Arteaga’s neighborhood and dropped off the men one street away from the victim’s home.
Batchelor and Barrett walked to Arteaga’s house, entered it armed with a metal pipe with the purpose of stealing any money and drugs they could find. The pair beat Arteaga who was sleeping, in the head with the metal pipe. They told detectives that each time Arteaga “woke up” they would strike him again.
After killing and robbing Arteaga, the two men were picked up again by Holmes and Wise, and they discarded the murder weapon while driving away from the scene, investigators learned.
Batchelor, who has a long criminal history, is charged with one count each of first degree murder, armed burglary,and attempted armed robbery.
Barrett, who also has a long criminal record, is being charged with one count each of first degree murder, armed burglary and attempted armed robbery.
Jenny Holmes is being charged with Conspiracy to Commit Robbery. Holmes has been in the Polk County Jail on four prior occasions on charges such as Burglary, Battery, Petit Theft, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of Meth.
Dana Wise is at large and detectives are in the process of obtaining a warrant for her arrest for Conspiracy to Commit Robbery. She is known to frequent the Wahneta area. She has been in the Polk County Jail twice, for Battery Domestic Violence, and DWSLR Failure to Appear.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Dana Wise, you are urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863.298.6200 or the Haines City Police Department at 863.421.3636.
