BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Police have arrested the son of a man whose remains were found on the grounds of the former Ocean Breeze Golf Club.
The case began April 1, when police began investigating a missing person's case.
Police say 49-year-old James Scandirito Jr. had reported his 74-year-old father James "Skip" Scandirito Sr., missing.
Police say they identified inconsistencies from information provided by the son and it led them to the abandoned golf course and eventually human remains. The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office later determined the remains belonged to Scandirito's father.
As a result of their investigation, police said they identified Scandirito Jr. as a suspect.
"We knew that it must be the son because he was the only one there and we knew they didn't get along real well," said Kathy McGuire, the victim's neighbor.
McGuire said Scandirito Jr. visited his father often.
"A lot of times during football season he would come and watch football and they'd have dinner," added McGuire.
But something was off to her about Skip's son's visit before Easter.
"That was kind of weird that he was here Wednesday before Good Friday and he was here Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and then Sunday he reported Skip missing," she said.
The website for Colfax Realty Group in Miami lists Scandirito Jr. as the VP of Sales. The broker and owner of the business could not be reached for comment Tuesday. McGuire and other neighbors say Skip lost his wife last year and believe the rest of his family lives in Michigan.
"That was so hard on Skip. He was just devastated by that and it hasn't even been a year and now he's gone. So we're just going to really miss him," said McGuire.
Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control removed two cats from the victim's home Tuesday. Next door neighbor Joseph Duquette said Skip was a great man and is surprised by the arrest of Skip's son.
"I didn't believe that he killed his father, I really didn't," said Duquette.
Scandirito Jr. was arrested in Alachua County after driving a vehicle with a stolen license plate, according to police.
He's charged with first-degree murder.
He made his first court appearance on Saturday, April 14, 2018 and the judge denied bond.
Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Tim Kurdys at (561) 338-1377.
