Lakeland, FL — On November 12, 2025, the Lakeland Police Department announced the arrest of Rex Honors III in connection with the 2018 murder of his 14-year-old half-brother, Rex Honors IV. Honors III, currently incarcerated in Albany, Georgia, on unrelated charges, faces charges of Second Degree Murder, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Resisting an Officer Without Violence.
The incident occurred on July 3, 2018, at 4:22 a.m. at 845 West Crawford Street. Honors III, then 21, called 911 to report his brother missing, stating he found a broken table and an open sliding glass door. Officers discovered Honors IV deceased in the backyard with a gunshot wound to the head. Honors III claimed a possible burglary, though no items were reported missing. A blood trail inside the home was not mentioned in his 911 call.
The case initially went cold due to insufficient probable cause. It was reopened on May 19, 2025, by Cold Case Investigator Gary B. Gross and Detective Virgil Cardin.
New evidence included:
- A witness statement from a 2025 reinterview indicating Honors III and the victim were the only individuals in the home and were fighting around 3:00 a.m. The witness left and heard a gunshot shortly after.
- Forensic analysis of 72,000 digital records from the suspect’s and victim’s phones, showing no outgoing calls from Honors III to the victim and the victim’s phone powered on with no incoming calls from the suspect.
- Neighbor surveillance footage timestamped to match calls Honors III made to two witnesses prior to 911, during which he stated his brother was deceased or found in the house.
On October 15, 2025, Honors III was interviewed in Albany, Georgia, after his August 16, 2025, arrest for Aggravated Battery. After receiving Miranda warnings, he admitted to arguing and fighting with the victim, claiming self-defense after the victim pointed a firearm at him from six feet away. He stated he dragged the body outside, cleaned the scene with bleach and rags, and disposed of two firearms and the rags.
Investigators determined the shooting was at close range, contradicting the suspect’s distance claim. Honors III did not call for medical aid and delayed 911 reporting by over an hour, providing false narratives about a runaway or burglary. He moved the body to dense vegetation and attempted to conceal evidence.
An arrest warrant was issued on October 30, 2025.
Source: Lakeland Police Department
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