The Polk County Sheriff's Office said Friday that two people face charges in the slaying of a 29-year-old man.

Christopher Clardy, 39, and Jamie "Jamo" Garst, 30, have been charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The body of Preston Burnett, 29, was found May 10 in the woods on the old Skyview Golf Course property.

Officials said an Auburndale police corporal saw Burnett in downtown Auburndale hours before and drove Burnett to his ex-girlfriend's house.

The ex-girlfriend told detectives that Burnett immediately left her home, stating "They might find me."

Sheriff Grady Judd said Clardy and Garst confessed to the murder. Judd said they told investigators they killed Burnett because he returned to his ex-girlfriend’s house when she told him not too.

Judd explained that the victim and suspects were all ex-cons whose lives revolved around methamphetamine. In addition, he said that Burnett was homeless.

"I feel sorry for [Burnett]" said Judd. "He's kicked out from his mama at seven, homeless since he was 17."

Family members react

Burnett's half-brother, Justin, said they had a good childhood. He explained that after Burnett's parents divorced, he was raised by his father and their grandmother.

When Burnett's father went to prison and the grandmother went into assisted living, Burnett moved in with his girlfriend. It's at that point that Justin believes his half-brother was introduced to drugs.

The two brothers had not seen each other in seven years. They kept in touch via chatting on Facebook.

A week and half before the murder, Justin said he messaged Burnett about meeting up to see their grandmother. He said his brother agreed, and then told him he loved him, and talked about death before they ended the exchange.

"Everybody losing they life out here in these streets.," said Justin, reading from one of Burnett's messages. "You never know -- might be one of us one day."

Burnett's cousin, Shawn Crumley, said the family, though torn apart over the years, is still devastated.

"I know his granddaddy and  grandmother are torn to pieces over it," said Crumley. "I haven't got to talk to his mother yet. All my cousins are all heartbroken over it. Glad they finally getting some justice for his terrible murder."

Tracking down suspects

Christopher Clardy (left) and Jamie "Jamo Smooth" Garst have both been charged with 1st degree murder. (Polk County Jail)

Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigators said a key chain left behind at the crime scene, social media, and witnesses helped them solve the case. The key chain had a picture of Garst’s girlfriend, who then led detectives to Garst, who some in the community know as “Jamo Smooth.”

Investigators stopped him in a traffic stop on Thursday after identifying him as a suspect. Along with his confession, they said he also gave them cell phone recordings of the murder.

The sheriff’s office said the videos show Garst in the car, while Burnett is outside with Clardy. They said Clardy told the victim, “I told you not to come back here. I told you what was going to happen the next time you came back,” while Burnett asked for a ride to Lakeland.

"Jamo smooth thought he was being 'smooth' by video recording to show that he didn't shoot the guy. And he didn’t,” said Judd. “But the fact that he drove him there, the fact that he conspired in advance, makes a beautiful case for our prosecution.”

Justin called the whole situation sickening.

"You got to be a pretty sick individual to, number one, take someone’s life and then have the brass to film it," said Justin. "You got to be a pretty evil person to film someone’s murder."

The case is still under investigation.