Suvechha Sarkar
Marie Jane Carlson was a 37-year-old mother who built a life centered on her faith. In October 2011, she suddenly went missing after sending a message to her family and friends, which led to an extensive investigation. The case went cold for four years before investigators finally arrested the killer. In NBC’s ‘Dateline: Secrets on the Emerald Coast,’ the focus is on the circumstances surrounding the case and the unexpected secrets it uncovered. Moreover, the episode features detailed interviews with her loved ones and the officials who caught the killer.
Marie Carlson’s Remains Were Found Buried in the Backyard of a Florida Home
Born in October 1974 in the Philippines, Marie Jane Bridges brought immense joy to her mother, Nina Akesson, and her father. She was initially living with her single mother before she was taken in by an American serviceman and his wife, Florencia Bridges. There, she grew a tight-knit bond with her sisters, Esta Bridges, Pacita Merriman, and Rose Bridges, and her brothers, Randy, Ralph, and Alex Bridges. According to reports, Marie later discovered that the serviceman was her biological father. When she was 18, she was taken in by a second family. Marie possessed a deeply magnetic personality and was always kind toward others. After graduating from high school, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and became a Deputy Sheriff in Florida.
Marie aspired to one day make her way up to the FBI through her service. In her free time, she enjoyed singing at karaoke, cooking delicious meals, and making beautiful jewelry. She was also a fitness enthusiast and immersed herself in her faith. Eventually, Marie found her soulmate when she met Jeff Carlson. As their connection blossomed, the couple tied the knot at a beautiful venue. Shortly after, they welcomed their daughter, Paris Carlson. Unfortunately, the pair began experiencing turmoil in their relationship as Marie lost her job, leading to a divorce. She reportedly often began moving and left Paris with Jeff to give her a stable life. Yet Marie always ensured she visited her daughter frequently. Around 2010, she got into a relationship and gave birth to her daughter, Grace Flanders, in July 2011.
Marie also became associated with Calvary Emerald Coast Church. On October 19, 2011, a text from her phone was sent to her loved ones, claiming that she had left Fort Walton Beach on October 18 to do something she wanted. However, Jeff and her family grew concerned when Marie couldn’t be contacted, prompting him to report her missing on October 24. Although her car was found in the parking lot of Northwest Florida Regional Airport (NFRA), she wasn’t there. Several years passed until a lead led to the discovery of human remains in a house’s backyard at 714 Revere Avenue in Fort Walton Beach on April 28, 2016. Authorities discovered the remains wrapped in a blanket inside a grave. Reports state that the dental records helped identify the remains as Marie’s. Although no public reports provide details about her cause of death, her manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Early Investigation Shifted Focus to Marie’s Connection With James and Tanya Flanders
Detectives initially discovered that when Marie disappeared, she was reportedly residing at the house of Calvary Emerald Coast Church’s pastor, James Ty Flanders, and his wife, Tanya Flanders. According to reports, when James and Tanya were questioned, they told the officials that Marie often left on a whim, so they allegedly thought she would return. Police records state that they claimed the 37-year-old was in a downward mental spiral. James claimed he last saw her on October 17, 2011, when Tanya left for grocery shopping, and he went for a run between 6 pm and 7 pm, per court records. In his statements, he revealed that he later drove around looking for Marie and found her parked car at the NFRA on October 21, 2011. Investigators reportedly discovered that she had not flown out of the city.
According to police records, as they investigated the father of Marie’s second child, they initially learned about a rumor that she had an abusive boyfriend who was the father. Some church members informed the detectives that James and Tanya wanted to adopt Grace, which would’ve been a “gift” from the 37-year-old, as per reports. Further reports indicate that when police questioned Jeff, they discovered that Marie told him she was acting as a surrogate mother of James and Tanya and had allegedly conceived Grace through artificial insemination. Law enforcement then reportedly learned from the pastor and his wife’s inner circle that Marie was in a relationship with James and had conceived Grace naturally, which Tanya was aware of, according to investigative reports.
Marie’s Killer Was Taken Into Custody Four Years After Her Disappearance
Official records state that Tanya told the authorities Marie was like a “sister wife” or James’ second wife, but this was kept secret from the other church members. When detectives finally checked the location data from Marie, James, and Tanya’s cellphones, it quickly ruled out Tanya as a suspect. However, they reportedly discovered that James and Marie’s phones pinged at the same location when the text was sent from her mobile, and the pastor’s location also placed him at the airport the day her car was left there. According to reports, the church’s youth pastor, Jason Anderson, contacted law enforcement to inform them that James had told him after Marie’s disappearance that the pastor and the 37-year-old had gotten into a physical altercation.
In his statements, Jason told the officials that James had insisted Marie was alive, as per reports. Digital forensic experts checked Marie’s laptop, where they reportedly found intimate photos and text exchanges between her and James. However, reports state that her activities stopped the day she went missing. According to court records, some of her family members came forward, emphasizing that Marie would never leave her daughters behind. By 2015, James and Tanya had already moved to Arizona. On May 5, 2015, he was arrested there and extradited to Florida. James was ultimately charged with second-degree murder.
James Flanders is Serving His Sentence at a Florida Prison Facility Today
James Flanders avoided a trial by entering into a plea agreement with the prosecution. On April 28, 2016, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. In exchange for the reduced charge, he agreed to confess and reveal the location where Marie’s remains were buried. In his confession, James reportedly told the authorities that he, Marie, and Tanya had a polygamous relationship arrangement, which the 37-year-old referred to as a “throuple.” In his statements, he claimed that he asked Marie to go to a psychiatric hospital to seek help for her mental health on that fateful day, which led her to blow up and push him, according to court records.
Official reports state that James confessed to grabbing her and putting her in a “tight bear hug” until he realized that she wasn’t breathing. On April 28, 2016, he led the officials to the backyard of his former home, where he had buried Marie. James was sentenced to 15 years behind bars on July 19, 2016. He is currently incarcerated at the Madison Correctional Institution in Madison, Florida. James is scheduled to be released on February 25, 2028.
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