Man confesses to Jacksonville murders

A man accused of murdering his girlfriend and her uncle earlier this month in a Southside mobile home confessed today to the murders according to the Jacksonville’s Sheriff’s Office.

Thomas Brown was arrested by U.S. Marshal in Thomasville, Georgia on warrants for robbery and probation violation in Pennsylvania. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office detectives interviewed Brown and were able to link him to the deaths of Amy Hatfield, 32, and her uncle, Robert Massey, 59.

On July 7 the two victims were found dead in Massey’s mobile home on Ascot Court, near the intersection of Hodges and Beach boulevards. According to police, Brown was said to be Hatfield’s boyfriend. She was visiting from the Pittsburg area at the time.

Brown is being charged with two counts of second-degree murder.

In a news conference today, Lt. Steve Gallaher said Brown and Hatfield were arguing about money when the argument turned physical. Gallaher said Brown told the police that he then proceeded to strangle Hartfield then tied a string around her neck killing her. He then went to the living room to tell her uncle, Massey, what had happened. An argument broke out between the two and Brown pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed Massey until he died, said Gallaher.

Massey’s roommate found his body after he returned home from vacation. When police searched the home they also found Hatfield dead.

Gallaher said Hatfield was visiting her uncle from Pennsylvania with Brown. Brown fled to Georgia after the murders.

The GPS tacker in the Nissan Maxima rental car that Brown escaped in led authorities to his location. The U.S. Marshals helped locate Brown. He was arrested on July 12 at a drug treatment facility in Thomasville. Brown was returned to Jacksonville and booked into the Duval County jail on Friday at 6:24 p.m.