Florida man accused of beating victim to death over borrowed car

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (TCD) -- Deputies arrested a blood-covered 37-year-old man on suspicion of beating another man to death after he failed to return a borrowed vehicle on time.

On May 21 shortly after 3:30 p.m., deputies with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office responded to a home on Shore Drive after a 911 caller said his neighbor confessed to killing someone. Authorities found the suspect, Matthew Weldon, covered in blood and standing in front of the residence.

Weldon reportedly pointed to the home and said, "He is dead." Deputies walked in and found 49-year-old Carroll Bryan on the back patio. The victim had suffered blunt force injuries to his head, neck, and arm, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Further investigation revealed Weldon and Bryan allegedly met two weeks prior at a bar in Clearwater, Florida, and Weldon later offered to lend Bryan his vehicle. Weldon became angry because Bryan reportedly failed to return the car on time.

On May 21, deputies said Bryan went to the Shore Drive home with Weldon’s vehicle and they got into a dispute. Weldon allegedly hit Bryan in the back of the head on the patio before hitting him repeatedly while he was on the ground. Weldon suffered minor injuries during the attack.

Weldon remains held in the Pinellas County Jail on a charge of second-degree murder.