PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Deputies say a death investigation that was launched Thursday has led to the arrest of a man they say killed his own father.
34-year-old Jeffrey Mulligan has been charged with the murder of 51-year-old Patrick Mulligan.
The incident began as a domestic disturbance Thursday morning when Charlotte County Sheriff's deputies were called to the 3400 block of Westlund Terrace around 11:30 a.m. "When I came around the corner, all I saw were cops blocking everything off, crime scene tape everywhere," said one neighbor.
The investigation west escalated to a homicide investigation with the arrest of Jeffrey Mulligan.
According to Mulligan's arrest report, deputies found him covered in blood and holding a bloody mop. They said blood was all over the floor and the walls. Upon entering the bathroom, they found Patrick Mulligan wedged between the tub and toilet, with a broken nose and faint pulse. He later died on the scene.
Jeffrey's sister told deputies she came home after having a "gut feeling" something was wrong. That's when she saw her brother slam their father's head on the ground repeatedly and punch him in the face several times. She told deputies her brother laughed, and then said, "he will never hit another woman again."
The most disturbing part to neighbors was that two children were in the home watching the incident unfold. Neither of the children were hurt.
Mulligan is being held at the Charlotte County jail with no bond.
