On May 23, 2020, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, a home was consumed by flames. Within this incident lies a tale of domestic turmoil, culminating in the chilling discovery of a body in a makeshift grave in Fredonia, Kentucky.
Lawrence Joseph Florentine, 56, has entered a guilty plea to numerous charges in federal court. Among the list are counts of interstate domestic violence resulting in death, use of a firearm during a crime of violence to cause death, obstruction of justice, and using fire during the commission of a felony. The guilty plea comes three years after the remains of his wife, Nicole Zahnd Florentine, were discovered. Forensic examination of the remains revealed a .22 caliber bullet wound to the head as the cause of death, with her body further subjected to burning.
Lawrence and Nicole’s relationship was described as turbulent. The couple, who married in 2018, had their share of discord recorded and observed by family members. Authorities in York County received multiple calls from Nicole in the period leading up to the incident, starting from December 2019. In these calls, she accused her husband of physical abuse, even voicing threats he made about ending her life in the gruesome manner of burning and burial.
The history of domestic disputes between the couple is well-documented. Lawrence had previously faced arrest on two separate occasions on charges related to domestic violence. On one of these instances, the charge was either fully or partly dismissed, based on a request from Nicole herself.
The fire that razed the couple’s home in 2020 wasn’t just a tragic accident. Evidence points to it being a deliberate act. Messages and photographs Lawrence sent to Nicole as the fire raged show the intent behind the act – it wasn’t just the property he wanted to burn, but also her belongings.
State court has pressed arson charges against Florentine in relation to the house fire. Following the fire’s aftermath, the couple’s whereabouts became a subject of concern. Between June 2 and June 11, both Lawrence and Nicole traveled together by car. Their last known location was in Piedmont, South Carolina. The alarming silence from Nicole during this period led her grandmother to file a missing person report.
It was only later that the gruesome discovery of Nicole’s burned body in the makeshift grave came to light. The meticulous investigation and evidence gathered, including the text messages and photographs, built the case that has now led to Lawrence’s guilty plea.
A federal grand jury in Greenville was involved in the formal indictment, laying down the multiple charges against Lawrence. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in a federal prison.