LAKELAND, Fla. – Those who travel deep into Green Swamp near Lakeland will find an eerie surprise: a hollowed-out shack sitting alone in the middle of the woods.
While the rotting wooden hut might seem creepy enough, its backstory is even more morbid.
This property was allegedly once the site of a double murder.
Outside the structure, a plaque reads out the names of the two who died: Isham and Sarah Stewart.
According to historian David Bulit, the circumstances behind their deaths are murky at best, though there are some details he was able to pin down.
“Isham raised and sold cattle, depositing his money in the bank,” Bulit writes. “Lots of folk at the time had distrust in city affairs, including Isham, who eventually pulled all his money out and took it all home.”
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But a few weeks later, Sarah’s son from another marriage — George Browning — stopped by their cabin and spotted buzzards on the roof. When he went inside, George came across an incredibly disturbing sight.
“He found his mother on the floor with her left hand and leg nearly severed, and her head caved in,” Bulit adds. “Beside her was an empty money box, sitting in a pool of blood. Isham was still in bed, his skull crushed from an axe to the head. The sheriff’s report differs, saying the Stewarts were killed in their beds, but their bodies were rolled up in the mattresses and buried not far from the cabin.”
Josh Browning — George’s son and Sarah’s grandson — was later arrested alongside his friend, John Tucker, and the pair were charged with the couple’s murders.
Per Josh’s testimony, he and his friend had visited the couple on May 9, eating dinner with them before heading to bed. But when the Stewarts were asleep, John got up and grabbed an axe, slaughtering the Stewarts.
It turned out that Josh and John had conspired to murder them to split Isham’s small fortune of $1,500.
Josh ultimately pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison (10 years for each murder). But a short while into his sentence, he escaped with another inmate, who was later killed in a shootout with law enforcement.
“According to legend, (Josh) returned to Green Swamp to recover the money he had stashed away from the murders,” Bulit explains. “He gave himself up after being on the run for 10 years.”
However, when he was brought back to prison, it was revealed that Josh hadn’t been advised on his constitutional rights, nor was he ever asked whether he’d like an attorney to represent him in his case. As a result, Josh was released from prison in 1938 — over 20 years after the murders took place.
Nowadays, the cabin where the Stewarts lived is long gone, though the decaying shack still stands deep in the east tract of the Green Swamp.
A new grave marker was installed in 2006 to commemorate the site, though it’s not the easiest place to find.
If you want to see it for yourself, you’ll be in for a fairly long hike – the only roadways leading to the property are typically flooded and nigh impassable for cars.
On the bright side, there are plenty of trailheads located around the 322,000-acre Green Swamp, though regardless of which one you choose, the hike will still likely take at least four hours.
Hikers looking to get a glimpse of the homestead will want to pack enough water for the trip.
And given that it’s a swamp, bug spray will definitely come in handy.
Upon reaching the intersection of Logging Road and Cross Seminole Trail, the homestead is just a few meters off the main path.
While the Stewart Homestead and Cemetery are an intriguing part of Central Florida, there are plenty of other strange tales to read about, too.
To read up on more stories about the Sunshine State’s weird and wild history, visit News 6′s Florida Fables page.
Alternatively, you can share your own strange stories and odd locations with News 6 via our PinIt! page or by emailing atalcott@wkmg.com.
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