Arrest in body parts murder

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- A South Florida man allegedly used a sledgehammer and backyard cutting tools to kill and dismember an acquaintance, then used the victim's credit card to pay for college tuition for his daughter, a set of tires and other items, police said Wednesday.

The suspect, 51-year-old Jamie Saffran of Davie, was being held without bail in the Broward County Jail following his arrest Tuesday. Court records did not indicate that he had an attorney.

The investigation began after a man's body parts were found between Nov. 6 and Nov. 26, covered in concrete in plastic containers in two locations in Broward County and one in Miami-Dade County. DNA testing determined that all were from the same person and a fingerprint led police to the victim's identity. The man's name was being withheld Wednesday pending notification of relatives.

The containers also contained leaves from trees like those in Saffran's backyard and a blue rope similar to one found outside his residence, according to a Fort Lauderdale police affidavit. Cadaver dogs found blood on a sledgehammer and cutting tools belonging to Saffran, as well as bags of cement identical to that used in the containers.

The victim's credit card was used to purchase tires for a Jeep - a 2002 Jeep is registered to Saffran - and to pay tuition for Saffran's daughter at Florida Atlantic University, police said. An employee at the tire shop identified Saffran as the buyer.

Prior to his arrest and after discovery of the body parts, Saffran told detectives that he had known the victim for many years and that he lived in the Dominican Republic, but had used Saffran's home as his U.S. address. Saffran also told police the victim was now in Colombia and "that he had received email correspondence from (the victim) recently," the affidavit said.

Police determined that the victim did fly to South Florida from the Dominican Republic on Nov. 2, but his return flight was canceled by someone who used Saffran's cell phone. Saffran had that same phone when he was arrested.

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Information from: WFOR-TV

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