SEBASTIAN — The Sebastian Police Department disclosed more details in the gruesome homicide of Patricia Danna-Harrison, mother of Alfred Geary, at a press conference on Monday.
Harrison was reported missing by her son on Dec. 21, her body later found on a beach near Jupiter, Fla.
“Manner of death is listed as a homicide, and the cause of death is multiple stab wounds and ligature strangulation,” said Detective Todd Finnegan.
Harrison was strangled with a long-sleeve T-shirt, he said.
Law enforcement officials have declared Geary was the sole person involved in Harrison’s death.
Had Geary not committed suicide during the investigation, Finnegan said authorities would have had enough evidence to charge him with second degree murder, having no evidence of any premeditation.
Surveillance videos show Geary entering the Sailfish Point development in Stuart, Fla., at approximately 9:30 a.m., in broad daylight, on morning of Dec. 21.
Law enforcement made contact with an individual in the neighborhood who had employed Geary as a boat detailer.
Additional video footage collected from a residence in the neighborhood shows a person, believed to be Geary, loading a large object onto his employer’s boat. The boat is then seen leaving the dock, returning over two hours later. Geary reported his mother missing later that day.
Finnegan said he interviewed Geary during the investigation and noticed several inconsistencies in his story.
“He admitted he was tired of taking care of his mother,” Finnegan said. He added Geary was the sole beneficiary on Harrison’s will.
Harrison’s body was found wrapped in a fitted sheet, several layers of green shrink wrap, a dark-green boat cover, and her head wrapped in a white trash bag. Her ankles were bound together by white zip ties.
All materials used to wrap the body were matched to materials found in Harrison’s home, where Geary also lived. The boat cover was identified as belonging to Geary as well.
Finnegan said authorities expect to completely close the case within the next two weeks after all lab work is finalized.
