The 1986 murder of 37-year-old John Blakely has been solved in Polk County.
- Polk County cold case murder from 1986 solved
- James Mason, Milton McIntyre identified as killers of John Blakely
- Blakely killed in November of 1986
Officials say two people have been identified as Blakely's killers--James Mason and Milton McIntyre.
Blakely's burning car was found on the morning of Nov. 16 in the woods near Idylwood Avenue and Highway 60, near Bartow. Officials said two weeks later, on Nov. 30, his decomposing body was found under a bridge over Charlie Creek on County Line Road in Fort Meade, with his hands bound.
Witnesses told investigators in 1986 that Blakely was last seen with James Mason.
According to the report, Mason was questioned about Blakely's death, but blamed it on his cousin Milton McIntyre. Several witnesses told detectives they overheard McIntyre talking about how he killed Blakely.
Officials said McIntyre was never located during the initial investigation and the case went unsolved.
A Polk County detective picked up the investigation in 2015 and uncovered more details into Blakely's death.
Several witnesses had died since then, including Mason who passed away in 2008, but the detective was able to reinterview at least one witnesses from 1986.
That person stood by his claim that McIntyre told him he had killed Blakely, but threatened to shoot him if he ever told anyone.
Another witness came forward and told detectives that McIntyre shared details of how he murdered Blakely. McIntyre's former girlfriend in 1986 also confessed that McIntyre and Mason used her car the night Blakely was last seen.
The detective was able to speak with McIntyre in the Hillsborough County Jail, but he denied knowing anything about the murder. However, McIntyre lied about living in the Ft. Meade or Bowling Green areas at the time of Blakely's murder, and then lied about being in prison when it occurred.
According to the report, enough probable cause was established to prove that McIntyre and Mason murdered Blakely, however, McIntyre had died in prison on April 9, 2018, before the case was presented to the State Attorney's Office.
On May 2, PCSO detectives and prosecutors with the State Attorney's Office determined that the case should be cleared as solved, with the offenders deceased.