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Third suspect arrested in Lake Worth Beach brothel murder

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Third suspect arrested in Lake Worth Beach brothel murder

Marco Antonio Rubi Escobar was killed in a shooting at a home on Melaleuca Lane in suburban Lake Worth Beach on September 5.

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Authorities extradited a third suspect to Palm Beach County. A fatal shooting in September in a brothel allegedly located nearby Lake Worth Beach.

Anthony Jennings, 26, of Pompano Beach, faces a first-degree murder charge in the Sept. 5 death of Marco Antonio Rubi Escobar, 58, at a home in the 3500 block of Melaleuca Lane near Davis Road, west of Congress Avenue.

Jennings remained in custody in Hillsborough County on unrelated charges.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigators had previously arrested 26-year-old Spencer Privet, also of Broward County, and a 14-year-old boy in the fatal shooting. They alleged that the two of them and Jennings were involved in a burglary that led to Escobar’s death. A 23-year-old man was also shot and injured while running away from home.

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At a hearing on Thursday, Nov. 22, Palm Beach County Judge Ted Booras assigned Jennings an attorney from the state’s Criminal Conflict Bureau and Civil District Counsel. Booras also ordered Jennings held without bail.

The State Criminal Conflict Office and Civil District Counsel represent individuals facing charges when the county Public Defender’s Office is unable to do so due to conflicts. As a policy, the office does not comment on open cases.

Investigators said at least three gunmen entered the residence and opened fire on a man at the front door and the man fleeing the reputed brothel. The surviving shooting victim told investigators that while he was in the back of the house, he saw a young Hispanic male come in and greet a man at the front door.

The man said that a few minutes later he heard shouting, followed by gunshots, and that he started running out the back door.

An eyewitness told sheriff’s investigators that the house was used as a brothel and that Escobar controlled the house and the women who worked there.

Julius Whigham II is the criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at: [email protected] and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.

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