2 men arrested in connection with beating death of man who was found in Indian River

Two suspects who beat a man to death and left his body in the water near a local park have been taken into custody.

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Ismael Barrera-Sarceno and Douglas Lopez were taken into custody. Both men are facing a charge of second-degree murder and being held on no bond.

The victim, Juan Carlos Perez Alvarez, was found dead on July 24, floating in the Indian River at Waterway Park in Merritt Island.

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It happened at Waterway Park on Merritt Island just off State Road 520.

The men all lived relatively close to one another in Cocoa. Investigators said they’d all been out drinking together before the victim was killed in a physical confrontation.

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“There was a disagreement that started up at one point,” said Tod Goodyear with Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. “This group pulled off under the bridge there at Waterway Park.”

Officials said it’s still unclear what the argument may have been about.

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