Palm Bay, FL – The disappearance of Marissa Garcia has hung over Palm Bay since Christmas Eve 2023. For months, rumors swirled through the Pinewood neighborhood, but answers were scarce. Today, the ambiguity ends. Stefan Paul Eide, 32, of Mims, has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including Tampering with Evidence and Failure to Report a Death.
While Eide is not currently charged with murder, his own confession to investigators paints a grim picture of Garcia’s final moments at Max Rodes Park and a desperate, calculated effort to conceal her remains.
The Digital Breadcrumbs
Modern investigations rarely rely on a single smoking gun; they rely on a mosaic of data. In this case, that mosaic began with a silver pickup truck carrying a dirt bike.
On the morning Garcia disappeared, surveillance footage at her last known location on Pinewood Dr. captured a silver truck arriving at 5:38 AM and leaving shortly after. Investigators utilized Flock Safety cameras—license plate readers stationed throughout the county—to track that distinct truck. The system flagged a match: a 2022 Dodge Ram registered to Stefan Eide.
But the physical trail was only half the story. Detective Brown’s affidavit details a web of digital evidence that tightened the net around Eide:
Burner Apps: Eide utilized a “TextMe” number to communicate with Garcia, arranging a meeting for paid sex on the morning of December 24, 2023.
Cell Tower Triangulation: Eide’s phone plotted a specific course that morning: from Mims to Palm Bay, to West Melbourne (Max Rodes Park), and finally back north to Mims.
The “Check” Digit: When police recovered a damaged iPhone in the woods at Max Rodes Park in October 2025, they confirmed it was Garcia’s by analyzing the IMEI number. It was a near-perfect match to her records, confirming the phone was dumped exactly where Eide eventually admitted to being.
The Suspect’s Narrative
According to the sworn affidavit, Eide confessed to picking up Garcia and driving her to Max Rodes Park in West Melbourne.
He admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse with Garcia in the back seat of his truck. Eide claims that afterward, Garcia began “convulsing” and became unresponsive. He stated he attempted CPR but was unsuccessful.
This is the critical juncture where the charges stem from. Instead of calling 911, Eide admitted to panicking. He told detectives he believed she had overdosed.
Eide allegedly drove north on I-95 with Garcia’s body in the vehicle, returning to his home in Mims. He admitted to leaving her body in the truck for “10-12 hours” while he waited for darkness.
A Calculated Deception
Perhaps the most chilling detail in the affidavit involves the use of Garcia’s phone. Police discovered text messages sent from Garcia’s phone after the time Eide claims she died.
The affidavit notes that these texts were sent in direct response to incoming messages, often within the exact same second. Detectives believe this was a clumsily executed attempt to make it appear Garcia was still alive, further implicating Eide in a cover-up. Eide denied this specific allegation, claiming he threw the phone into the woods at the park immediately.
The Search Continues
Eide eventually led investigators to a wooded lot near Hammock Road and Cuyler Street in Mims, where he admitted to dragging Garcia’s body into the brush.
Despite extensive searches utilizing cadaver dogs and search-and-rescue teams, Garcia’s remains have not yet been recovered. The affidavit notes that the area had been bulldozed and mulched in the intervening months, potentially complicating the recovery efforts.
What Comes Next
Stefan Eide is currently facing charges including two counts of Tampering with Evidence (a third-degree felony), Failure to Report a Death, and Illegal Transportation of Human Remains. His total bond was set at $33,000.
While the community may ask why a murder charge has not been filed, the current charges reflect the evidence at hand: a confession to the disposal of a body and the destruction of evidence. As the investigation proceeds and if remains are located, additional charges could follow.
We will continue to track this case through the court system.
Read the Evidence
Transparency is key to understanding this case. We have attached the full Arrest Affidavit below, which details the investigator’s timeline, the digital forensic data, and the transcript summaries of the suspect’s interview.
[Download/View: Affidavit for Arrest Warrant - State of Florida vs. Stefan Paul Eide]
(Note: This is a public court record sourced from the Brevard County Clerk of Courts.)
