At approximately 6:30 pm, Monday, June 15, 2009, Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested 47-year-old Claude Edward Holmes, Jr., 2207 North Navel Circle, Haines City, charging him with Dumping Raw Human Waste for Commercial Purposes, Violation of Probation and Resisting without Violence.

The arrest came after a "suspicious bag" was found by a maintenance crew member working at the Oakland Cemetery, 10th Street North, Haines City, at approximately 11:41 am, Monday morning - the bag contained human organs.

A Polk County maintenance crew member found the bag buried between two grave vaults while working at the cemetery and attempted to pick the bag up.  When he couldn’t remove the partially buried bag, he alerted a supervisor who then pulled the bag from the ground.  After pulling the bag from the ground, they located a trash bag, containing a body bag and a biohazard bag, emanating a strong odor of decomposition. 

Upon further inspection, it was determined the biohazard bag contained internal organs as the result of an autopsy. Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives determined the remains were that of Robert Donaldson, who died June 7, 2009.  Holmes Funeral Directors, 601 Claude Holmes, Sr. Avenue, Haines City, had conducted the funeral arrangements for Donaldson.

Detectives met with Holmes at his place of business where he admitted to burying the remains June 9, 2009.  He also admitted to having discarded remains at the Oakland Commentary approximately 10-15 times since 2000.  

Holmes has an extensive criminal arrest history dating from 1989 through as recently as December 2008.  Arrest charges include Fraud, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, Traffic Charges, Battery-Domestic Violence, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Failure to Pay Child Support, Fraud, Obstruction, Failure to Appear, Violation of Probation, and Failing to Register as a Felon.  He is currently on probation for Resisting Arrest Without Violence.

This is an on-going investigation.