The ex-husband of a Florida nurse found dead Thursday in a sugarcane field died from a drug overdose in Miami, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Sunday.
Albert Lambert was a top suspect in the the murder of Kimberly Lindsey and was going to be served a warrant on murder charges, authorities said Sunday. Lindsey's blood was found on his clothing, authorities told The Palm Beach Post.
"The bottom line is we were going to charge him with first-degree murder, no doubt," Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said.
Authorities said two people carried the body of Lambert, 52, out of a Miami home early Saturday morning. One was a man and authorities said they believe the other was Lambert's sister, who owns the home at 2101 Coral Gate Drive. Investigators who were watching Lambert around the clock were nearby.
"They saw a male and female coming out of the residence, struggling to carry a body wrapped up in a sheet. It was pretty obvious to them what was going on, two people removing a body," Bradshaw said at a news conference.
Lindsey was a nurse at Bak Middle School of the Arts. The school reported her missing early last week. Days later, Lindsey's body was found by maintenance workers in a Hendry County field.
A probable cause affidavit stated that Lindsey's body was found headless, with fingerprints removed and a gunshot wound to the chest. A cause of death has not been released.
Lambert was a physician in Broward. On Thursday he and his sister were seen leaving his Jupiter condo, with Lambert carrying clothes and a sports bag, the affidavit said. Lambert had been staying in Miami with his sister.
Lindsey was last seen last weekend, when she returned from a trip to Florida's west coast. She had texted her daughter that she was home safe after visiting her other daughter. The next morning, Lindsey never came into work.
According to the sheriff's office, there had been a violent confrontation at Lindsey's Palm Beach Gardens home, "after which the body was removed and taken to the remote area where it was discovered."
"I never saw or even heard anything that sounded like that," said Jim White, who lives across the street from Lindsey's home. "It's hard to think that something like that happened so close and I was right here."
Smears of blood were found throughout Lindsey's home the day she was reported missing, according to the affidavit. Her bed was missing the sheets and comforter, officials said.
Blood was also found in the trunk of the car driven by Lindsey and Lambert's youngest daughter, who was staying with her father for the weekend, officials said. The area of the blood was consistent with a body being placed in the trunk and the trunk door pushing down on it, according to deputies.
Lindsey's coworker Roberta Azrak said the nurse was going through a difficult divorce from her husband, which her attorney confirmed. Their dissolution of marriage was finalized in November of 2012 but they were still going through court hearings over alimony and child support, according to Palm Beach County authorities.
Those hearings over alimony and child support were messy, according to the affidavit. Lambert allegedly told a presiding judge that he would "disappear or go to jail" before he paid anything.
"He overdosed on narcotics and that's going to put this case as closed. There is no doubt he committed this crime," Bradshaw said of Lambert.
The couple had three daughters, ages 16, 18 and 20.
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"The tragedy here is not only do these kids not have a mother, now they don't have a father. And at the end of the day, that's the real tragedy," the sheriff said.
Friends and family of Lindsey came together Thursday to make a public plea for tips that would lead to her return. More than a hundred people gathered for a vigil at dusk Friday, still clinging for hope before the positive identification was made.
Bak officials told The Palm Beach Post Sunday they will rename the clinic at the West Palm Beach school in Lindsey's memory. Grief counselors will be at the school Monday to "help both children and adults cope with this senseless act of violence and loss of life," Principal Sally Rozanski wrote in a letter to parents.
"Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the entire family," Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Wayne Gent said Saturday. "This is such a tragic event for the school and community."
The memorial service for Kimberly Lindsey will be held on Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. at Christ Fellowship South Campus on Northlake Boulevard.
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