A man from Palmetto, Florida, has been indicted on federal charges related to the illegal disposal of a deceased body at sea. Matthew Edward Zoladz, 36, faces accusations under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act as well as the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. If found guilty on all counts, he could receive up to 15 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, authorities allege that on December 8, 2022, Zoladz disposed of the body of an individual referred to as Victim 1 in ocean waters.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the charges and emphasized due process: “An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King will prosecute the case.
