Detectives make arrest in Lichon murder

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrested a man and charged him with the murder of a woman found off Rye Road Feb. 5.

Jose Luis Marrero, 34, was charged in the shooting death of Lauren Lichon, 23, Wednesday at the Manatee County Courthouse while he was attending a hearing on an unrelated charge.

Lichon’s body was discovered off North Rye Road in the East County.

Detectives developed Marrero as a suspect early in the investigation. The break in the case came this week when a witness to the murder gave a statement to detectives implicating Marrero.

Detectives believe Marrero was brokering a deal with Lichon involving prescription narcotics when Marrero killed Lichon and took an undetermined amount of cash.

Marrero is being held with no bond at the Manatee County Jail.