Categories: Melbourne

Melbourne Man Indicted With Girlfriend's Murder

John Dwyer. Credit: BCSO Image

MELBOURNE, Florida — A Brevard County Grand Jury issued a first-degree premeditated murder indictment today against 53-year-old John Dwyer for the April 30th strangulation death of his live-in girlfriend, 52-year-old Joan Meta Justis. 

On May 1st, the Sheriff’s Office received a telephone call where information was provided that a woman was dead inside an apartment at the Cypress Cove Apartments located at 7667 North Wickham Road in Melbourne, Florida. 

When Deputies arrived on scene, they found Justis dead in a room she and Dwyer shared.  Justis’ body was later taken to the Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office where an autopsy was conducted.  Evidence from the scene led investigators to believe that the death was a homicide.

Investigators say Dwyer fled the scene after Justis was killed and was staying nearby in a hotel where he was arrested the morning after Justis’ body was discovered.  Dwyer was has been held at the Brevard County Jail on a no bond status ever since.

“The grand jury heard testimony from a Brevard County Sheriff’s agent, a sheriff’s crime scene investigator, and the Brevard County Medical Examiner before issuing the indictment,” said Assistant State Attorney Michael Hunt.


Dwyer is scheduled for a first appearance on the formal charge on Wednesday at the jail.

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