JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 19-year-old has pleaded guilty to his part of torturing and killing a teenage boy whose body was found in a San Marco home Feb. 10, 2005.
Christopher Popjes pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against his father, William Popjes.
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Police said that for months the father and son systematically beat 14-year-old Joshua Corriveau, who was the son of a former roommate of William Popjes. Investigators said the father ordered his son to brutalize Corriveau.
William Popjes is charged with first-degree murder and faces a possible death sentence if convicted.
Investigators said Corriveau was bound with tape and left for hours tied up in a back bedroom of a home on River Wood Lane, where he was beaten over and over with a metal flashlight.
The medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Corriveau's body said there were extensive injuries to nearly every part of his 6-foot, 152-pound frame.
The homicide was discovered after the pair ran from the house when federal agents arrived to question Willliam Popjes in a bank fraud investigation.
After obtaining a search warrant, Corriveau's body was found in a closet, wrapped in a sheet and garbage bags, allegedly to hide the odor.
Previous Stories:
- March 11, 2005: Report: Son Says Dad Beat Teen To Death
- March 9, 2005: Man Pleads Not Guilty To Beating Death Of Teen
- March 7, 2005: One Of Accused Pleads Not Guilty To Teen's Murder
- February 16, 2005: Father, Son Charged With Murder Of St. Petersburg Teen
- February 15, 2005: Teen's Death Ruled Homicide
- February 13, 2005: Fugitive Asks For Immunity If He Freed Teen
- February 11, 2005: Missing St. Petersburg Teen Found Dead In San Marco Home
- February 10, 2005: Bank Fraud Probe Leads To Missing Teen's Body