Florida man accused of killing woman was reportedly dating the victim and her mother

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) -- A 45-year-old man was charged with murder after a young woman’s body was recovered in a nearby canal wrapped in trash bags and tied to a cinderblock.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office announced 23-year-old Perrin Damron’s body was recovered in an Indiantown canal Monday. She had been reported missing the day prior. The Sheriff’s Office said they were investigating her death as a homicide and arrested a suspect. Later that day, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office announced Eric William Westergard was arrested for premeditated first-degree murder.

According to Treasure Coast Newspapers, Damron had not been seen since her son’s father picked him up on Friday night. Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said in press conference, "Ms. Damron was extremely careful and a loving mother — and had not been in touch with the child since Friday."

An arrest affidavit says no one had heard from Damron in over a day, which was "uncharacteristic of her." The affidavit says Damron’s last known contact was with Westergard, who allegedly dropped her off at her home at approximately 11:30 on September 3. Westergard was identified in the affidavit as "the boyfriend of Damron’s mother, Tammie Damron."

Investigators traced Damron’s phone records using cell towers and reported it was last located at Westergard’s residence. Police later spoke with Westergard and found in his car "a plastic 'Publix' style bag containing numerous white in color paper towels and baby wipes." The wipes were reportedly "covered in a dark red substance, consistent with the color of blood."

According to the affidavit, Westergard admitted he had been with Damron the last night she was seen. He told investigators he and Damron had been in an "intimate relationship for several weeks." On September 4, he told investigators he and Damron had sex at her apartment and then returned to his residence later that day.

The affidavit says Westergard and Damron went skinny-dipping at night, but she fell and hit her head on a hand truck. Westergard reportedly got paper towels and saw Damron was "unconscious and gurgling." Westergard reportedly "grabbed two, 65 gallon bags, tape, and rope, and a cinderblock." The affidavit says Westergard tossed her body in the water off a bridge.

According to the affidavit, Westergard did not try to get Damron any medical attention. Detectives wrote, "The only effort that Westergard performed was to attempt to conceal the discovery of Damron and hide the evidence of the crime from authorities."

Westergard is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond.

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