The Body Of Florida Mother Cassie Carli Was Found In Ex’s Barn

The body of Cassie Carli, a 37-year-old mother from Florida, was found in a shallow grave in a barn that has “connections” to her ex, Marcus Spanevelo. The two were co-parenting a four-year-old daughter, Saylor, together.

Carli was last seen alive in Navarre Beach, Florida, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. She met up with Marcus Spanevelo for a scheduled child exchange in the parking lot of a Juana’s Pagodas restaurant. Both Cassie and her daughter Saylor vanished after this, but Saylor was found safe with Spanevelo two days later, according to People.

At 10 p.m. on March 27, Cassie Carli’s dad received a text message from Carli’s phone that said she was staying with Spanevelo overnight because of car troubles. The next morning, on Monday, March 28, Carli’s dad reported her missing to the police.

Authorities found Carli’s vehicle near the restaurant on a “boat overflow ramp” with some of her belongings inside, reported WEAR. Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said that it was concerning to find Carli’s purse in her car. According to AL.com, he also said that Spanevelo took her phone and got rid of it.

Cassie’s brother, Anthony Carli, told WFLA Now’s JB Biunno Friday, “Cassie’s been telling me for the last two years that [Marcus] has been threatening her. She’s always said, ‘If anything happens to me, it’s him.’”

Carli’s body was initially identified by a tattoo on her right foot. Her body was found in the barn at 7826 Highway 11 in Springville, Alabama. This was a vacant property that was one of two addresses that police had for Marcus Spanevelo, and he was believed to be working in the area.

According to a press release from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Marcus Spanevelo was arrested on Friday, April 1, 2022, in Lebanon, Tennessee, by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. He was initially booked on three charges: giving false information concerning a missing persons investigation, tampering with evidence, and destruction of evidence.

Cassie Carli’s family is working on bringing her daughter Saylor home to them in Florida. A close friend of Cassie’s, Sam Graves, told WKRG News 5 she is working on starting The Cassie Carli Foundation, an organization that would work to protect people from domestic violence and particularly during custody exchanges.

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), via online chat, or by texting "START" to 88788.