Deputies say dad asked fifth-grade son to help dump body

The man accused of killing a prostitute last month and then dumping her remains near Eatonville asked his fifth-grade son to help get rid of the body, records show.
Alan John Jett, 40, who is charged with first-degree murder in the June slaying of Lashanda Rae Brand, was held without bail at the Orange County Jail.

Brand was identified last month after Orange County deputies released photos of her tattoos and asked the public for help. Witnesses told investigators she was a known prostitute.

Investigators received a tip that Jett's son told a classmate about the slaying. They interviewed him at school late last month, and the boy spilled his father's secret.

The boy, whom the Orlando Sentinel is not identifying, told investigators an incredible tale, according to an arrest affidavit.

According to the affidavit filed in Orange County court, the boy said he was with his father when Jett picked up a prostitute from the Parramore area. The trio went back to Jett's apartment in the 7100 block of Forest City Road, and the adults went into Jett's bedroom.

Awhile later, the boy heard his father and Brand argue about money. Then he heard silence, according to the affidavit.

Jett left his bedroom and took his son to dinner. As they left, the boy asked Jett about Brand and was told she was sleeping. The boy told investigators he saw her on the bed but thought then that she was dead.

The next morning, Jett told his son the woman had left. Later, however, the boy went into his father's room, opened the closet and saw Brand's body wrapped in a blanket and tape, according to the affidavit.

He didn't say anything to his father and went to his summer-school classes. After school, the boy told Jett he knew the woman was dead because he saw her body in the closet.

A day later, Jett told his son they needed "to get rid of the body" because it was starting to stink, the affidavit said.

Jett then wrapped the body in more bedding and asked his son to help him load it into the back of his Chevrolet Tahoe, the boy told investigators. They both got in the vehicle and dumped the body in a field.

Asked to show investigators the location, the boy took them to the same place off Forest City Road in Eatonville where Brand's body was found June 22.

Deputies have not said how the woman died.

The Department of Children and Families placed the boy with a relative.