Jury selection underway in Bartow for 2020 Frostproof triple murder suspect
Man stands trial in 2020 triple murder case
A jury is being seated in Polk County as a man stands trial six years after a triple murder in Frostproof. Tony 'TJ" Wiggins faces three counts of first-degree murder after being accused of shooting and killing three friends during a fishing trip. FOX 13's Carla Bayron reports.
BARTOW, Fla. - Jury selection is underway in Bartow as Tony "TJ" Wiggins stands trial for first-degree murder in the 2020 shooting deaths of three friends near Frostproof.
Investigators contend Wiggins ambushed the victims at a local lake following an argument regarding a truck engine sale.
Jury selection begins
What we know:
Tony "TJ" Wiggins appeared in a Bartow courtroom wearing a suit and tie as jury selection began in his first-degree murder trial.
Detectives say Wiggins shot and killed three friends—Brandon Rollins, Keven Springfield and Damion Tillman—during a July 17, 2020, fishing trip in the Frostproof area.
Authorities said the violence stemmed from a dispute over selling a truck engine.
Polk County sheriff evidence details
The backstory:
Detectives discovered the victims stopped at a Dollar General, where Wiggins overheard their plans to go fishing.
Wiggins followed the group to the lake and confronted them before opening fire, according to law enforcement.
Sheriff Grady Judd said forensic evidence on a shell casing found at Wiggins' trailer helped crack the case.
He explained, "He starts shooting Keven and Brandon inside the white truck. It's estimated he shoots them nine to ten times between the two of them."
Family awaits verdict
What they're saying:
Following Wiggins' arrest, Rollins' parents said they found a measure of closure.
Dottie Payton, Brandon Rollins' mother, said, "Brandon, Keven, and Damion will now rest in peace knowing that Mr. TJ won’t be out on the street anymore."
Unanswered questions
What we don't know:
Court officials have not specified how long jury selection will take if it extends past Friday.
It remains unknown how the defense will address the forensic evidence found on the shell casing at Wiggins' trailer.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from FOX 13 reporter Carla Bayron, who covered courtroom proceedings in Bartow, as well as court records and statements from Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.