Okeechobee County - Wednesday September 21, 2022: The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office has now begun a homicide investigation into the death of 27 year old Alex Garland.
Garland was a resident of Okeechobee. He was found dead in the rim canal near Lake Okeechobee by a boater on Sunday August 7. The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Criminal Investigations Division initially launched a death investigation. That investigation has now been upgraded to determine whether someone may have been involved in his death.
"The investigation into Alex's death is considered a homicide until information comes forward to prove, or disprove anything else," states the release from the Sheriff's Office.
Garland was last seen in the Treasure Island area of Okeechobee around 10 pm on Friday August 5th. His family reported him missing the next day after he didn't return home.
The Sheriff is asking anyone with any information, regardless of how small, to help by contacting Detective Speed at (863) 763-3117 ext. 5103 or Sgt. Ellis at (863)763-3117 ext. 5106
Or you can remain anonymous by calling Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-8477.