Body of wanted homicide suspect found in port charlotte — Police light, crime scene - Stock photo.

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL – The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the identification of a body found in a wooded area near Guild Street as Fidel Fletcher, a suspect in a recent homicide case.

On the afternoon of January 19, deputies were called to the intersection of Guild Street and Peachland Boulevard following the discovery of a body by a local resident. The body, in a state of decomposition, initially hindered immediate identification. However, following an investigation by the Major Case Unit, the remains have been positively identified as those of Fidel Fletcher (born October 1, 1977).

Evidence found at the scene indicates that Fletcher may have taken his own life, although the official cause and manner of death are still pending.

Fletcher was the subject of a warrant in connection with the December 26, 2023, murder of his wife, Nicole Gates. He had evaded capture, leading to a statewide search involving the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshal’s Service, with indications that he was hiding in DeSoto and Hillsborough Counties.

Sheriff Bill Prummell addressed the tragic development, acknowledging that while this discovery might not bring justice to Nicole Gates’ friends and family, it may provide some closure. He expressed deep sympathies to the children who witnessed the incident, urging them to honor their mother’s memory by leading good lives and serving as a beacon for others in pain. “Charlotte County is with you,” he affirmed.

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