JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Russell Tillis was charged with murder and other charges after dismembered human remains were found last year buried in the yard of his Southside home. Just over a year later, News4Jax has learned that police started digging at his property the day after Tillis, while in jail on other charges, told an inmate wearing a hidden microphone about "a prostitute and drug user."
Police spent five days digging at Tillis’ home on Bowden Circle East in February 2016, months after Tillis was arrested for aggravated assault on law enforcement officers in 2015. Human remains found in three separate locations were later identified by the medical examiner as those of Joni Gunter.
Defense attorney Randy Reep, who is not involved in this case, said the audio of Tillis talking about the victim would be pretty convincing to a jury.
"I will tell you as a defense practitioner, it is extraordinarily difficult to overcome a defendant's own words that implicate them in a crime," Reep said. "Again, ultimately only one person knew where this body was buried. They got a warrant for it. They went and found that body. It was all corroborated. But think how powerful, if it true, Mr. Tillis told ... where the body was buried and they go and find the body buried exactly there and it's recorded. I would say it’s incredibly incriminating."
Neighbors who said they had to put up with a scary neighbor, then the police excavation, are still disturbed by the property.
David Eichenlaub said he feels forced to relive the day Gunter’s body was found every day as he waits for the property to be torn down.
"(The new owner has) had people over here working on this property for eight weeks now, There is no dumpsters, no trash bags, no nothings," Eichenlaub said Tuesday. "Every time we turn around and talk to the city, it's another, 'We got to wait.' It's always some kind of excuse, and I am getting sick of it. The neighbors are getting sick of it."
The city's code enforcement office told News4Jax: "The property owner (or their representative) has commenced demolition activities on the site. Code enforcement will be monitoring their progress. Because the property owner (or representative) is overseeing demolition, you may need to get with them on details (timeline, etc.)."
After contractors submit bids to do the demolition work, they will have two weeks to complete the project.
Neighbors said thieves steal from the property at night, there are chemicals everywhere and the property is attracting rats and snakes.
City Councilman Scott Wilson, who represents the district, said he was told the property owner was given a citation.
Tillis is charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, human trafficking, abuse of a dead body and tampering with evidence in that case. Among the evidence collected for the murder case against Tillis are 913 photos and a 63-page report from the Medical Examiner's Office.
He is due back in court March 22.