Titusville murder suspect held without bond

The Titusville man charged in connection with his 51-year-old wife's death is being held at the Brevard County Sheriff's Office without the possibility of posting bail, according to records.

Timothy Upthegrove, 53, was taken into custody Sunday after a days-long search for his wife ended Christmas Eve morning, when police located what they believe to be Lori Upthegrove's body in a wooded area near Bobbi Lane. Police say they were able to locate the woman's remains through information provided by Timothy Upthegrove. 

Sunday afternoon, a somber Titusville Police Chief John Lau announced a missing person case turned into a homicide investigation early on Christmas Eve after the discovery of the woman's body about 10 a.m.

Police believe Upthegrove's death is connected to a violent struggle following a domestic argument.

The discovery came on the couple's one-year anniversary of their Christmas Eve wedding, according to social media posts from the pair.

Sunday night, Timothy Upthegrove was charged with second-degree murder in connection with his wife's death. Second-degree indicates an intentional killing that wasn't planned.

“Right before Christmas, our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the family,” Lau said.

Detectives scoured the wooded area off Bobbi Lane using information provided by Lori Upthegrove's husband.

More:Search for Titusville woman could reach sixth 

The husband had already been charged with obstructing justice after police say he gave them false statements in an initial questioning on his wife's whereabouts.

“It was very apparent that her and her husband had a fight. Evidence has proven that that physical fight led to Lori’s (death),” Lau said.

Lori Upthegrove was reported missing Dec. 19.

Timothy Upthegrove was arrested after Titusville police were called to the Days Inn hotel to investigate Lori Upthegrove’s missing person report. Almost immediately the woman’s disappearance was deemed suspicious, prompting police to question her husband.

"Based off of the information we were getting during the investigation, we were beginning to believe Lori may have been met with foul play,” a detective wrote in a report.

At the hotel, officers found Timothy Upthegrove with his wife’s 2003 Isuzu Rodeo. He told officers that he saw her drive away from their 646 Cleveland Street home Monday morning.

The husband then said he found the Isuzu abandoned Tuesday afternoon at a gas station on Cheney Highway.

Timothy Upthegrove later told officers he lied. “Listen, I need to come clean about you … about something, man. When Lori threw the keys at me Monday morning, I had the truck ever since,” he said.

In reality, police said the pair argued Monday morning, with Tim Upthegrove inflicting fatal injuries on his wife. Timothy then put his wife's body in the back of her Isuzu truck and drove it to the wooded area near Bobbi Lane, police say. 

Officers found physical evidence of a struggle between the pair in both the home and also the Isuzu. They also located his daughter, at a hotel.

"He's also being charged with child neglect. He left his 8-year-old daughter alone in a hotel," said Todd Hutchinson, spokesman for the Titusville Police Department. 

Friends said Lori Upthegrove will be missed.

“She had a caring, big heart,” said Robert Chittenden, a friend who had known Lori Upthegrove since graduating from Titusville High School in the mid-'80s. He said Lori Upthegrove had two teenagers and two adult children living in Georgia. “This hits awful hard."

Relatives of Timothy Upthegrove also responded to the tragic news. 

"Our hearts and prayers go out to Lori's family and friends during this difficult time," a family spokesman told FLORIDA TODAY on behalf of Ed Upthegrove, the father of the suspect in the case.  "We are cooperating with investigators as they continue to gather evidence in this case."

Part of Timothy's court arrangements call for no contact with Lori's family and for prohibited possession of firearms or ammunition, reports show. 

The suspect is scheduled to appear in front of a judge Jan. 23.

Reporter Tess Sheets contributed to this report. 

Contact Gallop at 321-242-3642, jdgallop@floridatoday.com and Twitter at @JDGallop