Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd Investigating Lakeland Missing Persons Case As Murder

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd holding photos of Adonai Moran-Rivera and Talon Page (Right) Ethan Fussell (Press Conference) POLK COUNTY, Fla. -

Polk County Sherriff Grady Judd (Press Conference) — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd holding photos of Adonai Moran-Rivera and Talon Page (Right) Ethan Fussell (Press Conference)

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd briefed the media and public this afternoon with an update on the investigation into a missing man, 21-year-old Ethan Fussell.

Fussell went missing on May 7, 2024, from the Driggers Road Area of Lakeland.

“This was a missing person’s investigation that elevated to what we believe to be a death investigation. In fact, a murder investigation. We weren’t saying that as you at the time. But we were looking for him and praying for the best,” said Judd.

Judd said that Fussell and Talon Page lived together on Driggers Road and called each other ‘brothers.’

Read: Wanted: Winter Haven Man Violently Beats, Strangles Woman. Now Is On The Run

“Last Friday, we got evidence back from the lab. They confirmed that the blood that we seized from the house at 1116. Driggers Road, where Talon lived, was, in fact, Ethan Fussell’s blood. We still have not found Ethan. We know that he was last seen and was staying with Talon Page, his best friend or, as they called each other, brothers. We have every reason to believe at this point that Ethan Fussell is a Victim of murder.”

Judd said there is evidence that a crime scene at the home on Driggers was attempted to be cleaned up.

“We have reason to believe that Adonai (Adonai Moran-Rivera) took part in the murder, but Talon Page was the primary source to the murder of his best friend.,” said Judd.

Talon Page, 25, of 1116 Driggers Road in Lakeland, was charged with one count of accessory after the fact of a capital felony (F1) and one count of destroying/tampering with evidence (F3). His criminal history includes 11 previous felonies and 16 previous misdemeanors.

Adonai Moran-Rivera, 21, who also lives at the Driggers Road address, was charged with one count of accessory after the fact of a capital felony (F1) and one count of destroying/tampering with evidence (F3). His criminal history includes 41 previous felonies, 16 previous misdemeanors, and a trip to state prison, from which he was released in May 2023.

They were both arrested on Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Mulberry after PCSO received a tip that they were seen at a house there. Deputies arrived and arrested them for their active warrants. They refused to cooperate with this investigation.

Heartland Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of Ethan Fussell’s body and any other arrests related to his murder.

Contact Heartland Crime Stoppers in one of four ways: