An account has been set up for the family of a Estero woman reportedly killed by two men, one of whom is from Cape Coral.
The “Mary Ann Zarb Family” account has been opened at SunTrust Bank, number 1000139950074, for those who would like to help pay for funeral expenses and travel costs for Zarb’s family.
Donations can be made payable to Julie Ann Temperly.
Zarb’s body was located Tuesday in a heavily wooded area of North Fort Myers near the Lee and Charlotte county line, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators have not yet released how Zarb was killed.
Services are at 3 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Bonita Springs, at 3971 Via Del Rey, Bonita Springs. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the “Lee County Sheriff’s Office Fallen Officers Fund.”
Accused in her death are Shane Steven Simpkins, 24, of 2030 N.E. 34th Terrace, and Christopher A. Neuberger, 25, of 1821 Pacific Ave., North Fort Myers. Denied bond, the two men remained at the Lee County Jail on Friday.
Each has been charged with one count of murder while engaged in a certain felony offense, armed burglary of a dwelling, structure or conveyance, and larceny $20,000 to less than $100,000, according to jail booking records.
Simpkins was additionally charged with cocaine possession, while Neuberger was additionally charged with use or display a firearm during a felony and possession of a weapon or firearm by a convicted felon from another state.
Zarb, 64, last spoke to her adult children on April 10, the LCSO reported. Five days later, her family called deputies, who went to the house, but she was not there. A deputy stopped by again later and discovered four people inside, including Simpkins.
Simpkins and two others were charged with drug or drug paraphernalia charges, while the fourth person was charged with resisting arrest. When Simpkins was detained, he reportedly had Zarb’s credit card in his wallet.
An investigation revealed that “Simpkins used her credit card at various businesses during the week following her murder,” the LCSO reported.
Zarb was last seen alive the morning of April 11 at her bank, according to the LCSO. Simpkins admitted to being at Zarb’s home that day, but said that he was hired to remodel her home and that she had prepaid him in excess of $24,000 for the work. He said Neuberger was with him.
Zarb’s bank confirmed that on April 11, five checks totaling $25,600 were written from her account to Simpkins, and that he cashed them that day.
Witnesses told investigators that they saw Simpkins the night of April 11 driving Zarb’s vehicle in North Fort Myers. He was reportedly in possession of about $20,000 in cash and he had two firearms that he was trying to sell.
According to the LCSO, Neuberger said he was at Zarb’s house on April 11. He said she paid him about $400 for work that he did at her house and that Zarb left at some point with Simpkins. When Simpkins returned, Neuberger said he left with a friend.
Neuberger was acquitted of a murder charge in 2009 that was tied to the Thanksgiving Day slaying of Jose Gomez in North Fort Myers four years prior.