A Florida sheriff’s deputy and school resource officer, Justine Lopez-Rodriguez, has lost his job after being accused of taking a photo of human remains at a crime scene and sending it to a 13-year-old student via Snapchat.
Although the charges were later dropped, the incident led to significant consequences for Lopez-Rodriguez, including his termination from his role with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and his position as a school resource officer at Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel.
The Snapchat Photo Incident
Lopez-Rodriguez, 32, was arrested on March 13, 2026, after being accused of sending an inappropriate Snapchat photo to a 13-year-old student.
According to the arrest affidavit, Lopez-Rodriguez had added the student on Snapchat sometime in late January or early February 2026. The initial communications between them reportedly involved casual topics like food, basketball, and working out.
However, on March 1, Lopez-Rodriguez allegedly sent the student a disturbing image of “skeletal remains” in a wooded area. The student described the photo as showing a rib cage, a red shirt, blue pants, and a river in the background. The image appeared to be taken during the daytime in a forested location.
The Investigation and Lopez-Rodriguez’s Admission
After the student reported the incident, investigators were able to identify the scene depicted in the photo as consistent with a recent investigation into human remains. Lopez-Rodriguez had been the primary deputy at the scene, where law enforcement had responded to a body discovery.
When questioned by investigators, Lopez-Rodriguez initially denied sending any photos of the remains to the student.
However, when his phone was examined, three photos of the body were found. Lopez-Rodriguez eventually admitted that he had taken the photos and sent one of them to his wife. He acknowledged that he could have sent the images to the student but could not recall doing so.
Further investigation revealed that Lopez-Rodriguez had deleted the Snapchat app from his phone after the incident, which led to a charge of evidence tampering. Authorities argued that the timing of the deletion, along with his knowledge of an ongoing investigation, was suspicious.
Lopez-Rodriguez’s Termination and Legal Outcome
Following his arrest, Lopez-Rodriguez was immediately fired from his position as a deputy and school resource officer. His actions, which involved sending disturbing images to a minor, violated the trust placed in him by his community and the law enforcement agency he served.
Despite the serious nature of the charges, court records show that the case against Lopez-Rodriguez was dropped on Thursday, with no explanation provided in the public record. Lopez-Rodriguez had been out on bail during the proceedings.
While the legal case against Justine Lopez-Rodriguez has been dismissed, the incident remains a troubling example of abuse of power and unprofessional conduct.
His actions, particularly involving communication with a minor and the handling of sensitive evidence, prompted swift termination from his law enforcement duties.
The case has also raised concerns about the responsibilities and ethical standards for law enforcement officers, especially when interacting with the public and vulnerable individuals.
