INTERLACHEN, Fla. – An 18-year-old charged with murder in the March death of a Putnam County man has been transferred from Volusia County to the Putnam County Jail, where he remains held without bond.
Charles Bean III is charged with the murder of 57-year-old Timothy Wietzel, whose death was initially reported as a possible suicide on March 18 at a residence on Sheila Avenue in Interlachen.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Bean called 911 and told responding deputies he had found Wietzel dead inside the home. Investigators said Bean made several statements that were inconsistent, prompting detectives to take over the investigation.
Authorities determined that Bean and Wietzel had spent much of the day together before Wietzel’s death. Investigators said Bean left the residence at approximately 6:45 p.m. to return home for garbage bags. Bean later told investigators he returned to the home, found Wietzel deceased and called his mother. When deputies arrived, Bean and his parents were at the residence.
Investigators also noted that no firearm was found at the scene.
An autopsy later determined the location of the gunshot wound was not consistent with suicide and concluded Wietzel had been shot by another person.
As the investigation progressed, detectives said Bean provided conflicting accounts about the timeline surrounding Wietzel’s death.
On March 25, investigators executed a search at Bean’s residence and found a bullet inside a storage shed that matched ammunition recovered from the victim’s home.
Bean was initially arrested for violating the terms of his juvenile probation on charges related to possession of ammunition by a minor with an adult felony conviction and destroying evidence. He was taken to a juvenile detention facility in Volusia County.
On May 1, investigators submitted a probable cause affidavit seeking a charge of first-degree premeditated murder.
Bean was transferred from Volusia County to the Putnam County Jail on Friday and remains incarcerated without bond.
The investigation remains ongoing.