Madison Zaleski
•7/29/2026
A judge has ordered George Beemer, 23, to remain in jail after he was accused of killing his mother, Elizabeth Beemer, and setting her home on fire in Lee County. New video shows Beemer walking into court, where a Lee County detective testified that he shot his mother in the chest at their Ranchette Road home on Saturday. Investigators are awaiting the results of a carbon monoxide test to determine if she was still alive when the fire was set. "The probable cause affidavit notes that a firearm with a suppressor had been located by the firefighters, and then it had been moved. Where had that originally been located before the firefighters removed it?" a state attorney asked during the hearing. Detective Adnan Selimovic of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded, "According to firefighter statements, that was located in a hallway right next to the kitchen area. They picked it up for safety reasons and moved it to a back bedroom." Investigators also found a metal gas container in the kitchen. Selimovic said Beemer and his mother had a history of conflict. "During statements from family members, they all indicated that the defendant and the decedent argued often, and that the defendant would destroy items within the house when he gets upset," he said. After his arrest on Saturday, deputies said Beemer told them he was fed up with his mother belittling him and accused her of molesting him. According to the arrest report, Beemer called 911 complaining of chest pain before the fire was discovered and was taken to the hospital. The detective also noted that two cats were inside the home during the fire, but one did not survive. Beemer is scheduled to appear in court again on Aug. 24. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.
