The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said Thursday they may have found the body of a 52-year-old man who has been missing since Sunday in an Orange County lake.

Juan Santiago was last spoken to by his wife in New York over the phone at their Deltona home. She told investigators that during the 11 p.m. phone call, her husband was arguing with their 18-year-old son, Johnny Santiago, when she heard a loud noise and the line went dead.

What You Need To Know

  • The incident began Sunday night when the Volusia County's Sheriff's Office received a call from New York

  • The caller said she hadn't heard from her husband since earlier in the day when he and their son were arguing

  • The son allegedly fled from law enforcement three times before crashing into a Mount Dora synagogue and opening fire on officers late Monday afternoon

  • On Thursday, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said a body had been found in Lake Avalon and investigators believed it might belong to the missing husband

In a Thursday tweet, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said that it was Johnny Santiago's sister who found the body while searching Lake Avalon in Orange County.

Chitwood says the family of Juan Santiago was able to find his body because of an app that could track his trucks movement.

“He was in a set of bushes. His son had wedged him in a set of bushes you would have never found him. This place is completely remote," Chitwood told Spectrum News.

Juan’s sister actually discovered the body while searching lake Avalon.

Johnny Santiago is currently in custody after being arrested in connection with a police chase in three counties that ended when he allegedly crashed into a synagogue and opened fire.

After the Sunday call, the woman contacted law enforcement and asked deputies to check on her husband and son.

When they arrived at the Deltona property, deputies said the house was empty and no vehicles were present. Johnny Santiago's vehicle, a white 2021 Ford F-150, was spotted in DeBary, but the driver fled from law enforcement, a report on the incident stated.

The vehicle was later spotted in Sanford, where the driver again fled from police, investigators said. 

At this point, law enforcement officials said a regional and nationwide BOLO (Be On the Look Out) was issued for the vehicle.

The suspect vehicle was spotted again around 5 p.m. Monday in Lake County, where the driver fled from law enforcement a third time before crashing into a synagogue on Donnelly Street in Mount Dora, the report said.

“Our chopper spotted him and directed our deputies to his location, which was right there in the area near Walmart in Mount Dora,” said Lake County Sheriff's Office Lt. John Herrell.

That’s when deputies say the truck crashed into the Traditional Congregation of Mount Dora, and the driver exchanged fire with law enforcement.

Officials say responding officers returned fire, hitting the suspect, who was then airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the report.

“Once he crashed, he began shooting from the driver side of his vehicle at the deputies and Mount Dora police officers at which time they returned fire,” Harrell said. “The suspect vehicle fled down 441 through Mount Dora, went to Limit Avenue and came towards Donnelly Street.

"And during that time, the suspect shot outside his driver side window at least once at the pursuing deputy.”

As for the suspect, he’s facing multiple charges, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. Officials said the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave.

This is a developing story and more information will be posted as it becomes available.