By Editor,Rachel Sharp

Copyright dailymail

The military veteran accused of shooting dead two teens in a random attack at a remote Arizona campsite made eerie posts about the killings and his presence at the crime scene on social media.

Thomas Brown, 31, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the May 26 killings of Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, and Evan Clark, 17, in the Mount Ord area of Tonto National Forest, near Phoenix.

Brown was allegedly camping with his wife in the area at the time before she left the trip one day early, leaving him alone.

It was during that extra day that Brown allegedly killed the two teens, and the motive remains a mystery.

According to investigators, Brown then inserted himself into the case in the days after the murders, coming forward with tips and handing over drone footage he had captured of the area.

Now, a Daily Mail review of the suspect’s social media accounts has revealed that he made several posts linking himself to the slayings.

Online, Brown nonchalantly places himself at the scene of the shootings – and, in one chilling statement, complains about the ‘rando adults’ he encountered at the campsite on the day he allegedly killed the two teens execution-style.

On May 24, Brown posted a series of photos of his dog Snoopy at Mount Ord, writing that the pup had ‘claimed Tonto for himself.’

At the time, Brown’s wife Nicole was still apparently with him on the camping trip.

The 31-year-old suspect told investigators the couple had gone to the national forest on May 23 through May 26, but his wife left the morning of May 25, leaving him alone for one night.

It is not clear why Brown’s wife allegedly left the camping trip early without him.

On his return home, Brown updated his Facebook friends about his night alone at the campsite, hinting at some issues with fellow campers.

‘I’m regretting staying one more night lol! Got a gang of rando adults playing music and camping next to me though!’ he wrote.

‘I picked up Culvers on the way home, totally worth it! Snoopy gets another treat after having Nicole give him a shampoo shower/tick check and I gave him a conditioner shower/tick check,’ he added along with images of a dog.

It is not clear if Brown was referring to Clark and Kjolsrud in his social media post.

But not long before posting the lighthearted complaint about his fellow campers, investigators allege he shot and killed the two victims in a senseless attack.

Meanwhile, Brown appeared to carry on with a normal life, keeping up with his regular posting habits which largely focused on politics critical of President Donald Trump.

That same day, he shared a Truth Social post from Trump, writing ‘Happy Memorial Day?’

On May 29, the suspected killer directly addressed the murders of Clark and Kjolsrud, sharing a link to a local news article and writing, ‘Nicole, Snoopy, and I were there days before. Terrible news, especially with the last days of school just prior.’

Four months later, he was arrested on suspicion of the murders.

In a press conference Friday, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Captain David Lee said investigators were aware of Brown’s social media but did not divulge what they had found.

But Lee revealed explosive details about how the net finally closed in on the suspected killer thanks to his own comments, witness statements and DNA evidence.

Following the murders, several tips had come in from the public including from Brown himself, Lee said.

The 31-year-old told investigators he had seen the two victims inside their car on the day of the murders. He also said he had drone footage of the area and handed it over.

Tips also came in to law enforcement from another group of campers who said they had encountered a man ‘acting strange’ in the area. That group left on May 26, Lee said.

With suspicion mounting over his possible involvement, Brown was ultimately tied to the murders when his DNA was found in the victims’ SUV, according to court records.

A pair of gloves found near the scene was also found to contain DNA belonging to Brown, Kjolsrud, and Clark, as well as the victims’ blood, the records show.

But the motive for the double homicide remains a mystery. Investigators have not found evidence of a connection between the victims and Brown, who served 10 years in the military and has no known criminal history.

‘As far as we know they were complete strangers,’ Lee said.

Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan called the murders a ‘senseless violent act’ and said the remote location and terrain of the crime scene had slowed the investigation.

The suspect is also believed to have acted alone, with officials assuring the community there is no ongoing danger.

Footage posted online by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office shows Brown’s vacant expression as he was perp-walked into the precinct Thursday.

Dressed in a khaki t-shirt and shorts and camo-patterned crocs, Brown was led from a car and into the building by two law enforcement officers in handcuffs.

After being processed, he was placed in a cell, staring ahead expressionless and sitting with his back straight and hands carefully placed on his knees as the door was shut, locking him inside.

Brown’s arrest now brings an end to the victims’ families’ months-long agony.

Speaking at Friday’s press conference, Kjolsrud’s mother Simone choked back tears as she said, ‘For the last four months, I have prayed every day that her killer will be brought to justice.’

‘We are all devastated and miss her every day. All of life’s beauty feels less bright without her here.’

Kjolsrud and Clark – who both attended Arcadia High School in Phoenix – had decided to go on a camping trip together over the Memorial Day weekend to ‘celebrate the start of summer vacation,’ Simone previously told AZCentral.

Clark’s mother Sandra Malibu Sweeney told the outlet she had been wary about the trip because it meant the teens would be off grid.

Her worst fears became a reality when the pair failed to return home as planned on May 26.

Simone contacted law enforcement and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputies searched the campsite just off State Route 87 near Mount Ord, finding the bodies of the two teens who had both suffered gunshot wounds to the head. Their vehicle was found in a different location than their bodies.

It is unclear if the victims were friends or romantically involved.

In a statement to 12News, Clark’s mom said the arrest finally gave her the ‘closure I desperately needed.’

‘The past four months, I’ve been haunted every night by the murder of my son. I hope now that they have someone in custody, everyone can sleep safe knowing this person can’t harm anyone else,’ she said.

Meanwhile, Simone vowed that her daughter’s ‘light and love and beauty’ would not be overshadowed by her killer’s actions.

‘The darkness she encountered on that day that she met her killer will not her life… is darkness will not overcome her light,’ she said.

‘My daughter Pandora was a beautiful, brilliant light in this world. She was so full of joy and life and love.’

In the aftermath of the murders, heartbreaking tributes to the two teens were shared on GoFundMe campaigns launched to support their families with funeral expenses.

Kjolsrud was remembered for her ‘vivacious personality’ and ‘infectious smile that brought joy to so many,’ and love of camping, according to a GoFundMe.

‘She loved music in all of its forms and enjoyed playing violin, cello and guitar. The outdoors is where she truly felt at home. She loved camping, horseback riding, kayaking and hiking with friends and family,’ it reads.

‘Animals adored Pandora and she had a special bond with her two little dogs, and never failed to stop and greet any dog she passed on her hikes and neighborhood walks. She was a friend to so many and a beloved daughter.’

In a GoFundMe for Clark’s family, his mother shared her ‘insurmountable’ grief at losing her only child.

‘Evan wasn’t a typical teenager. He was funny, bright, kind and entrepreneurial. He was an old soul who was sensitive and loving,’ she wrote of her son, who enjoyed ‘concerts, photography, cars and trips to Malibu.’

‘Evan wrote me letters, the last of which he gave me on Mother’s Day that was so touching it made me both laugh and cry. He was special. He deserved a long life.’

Brown is now facing two counts of first-degree murder.

He appeared in court overnight on Thursday where a judge ordered him to be held on $2 million cash bond. He is next due in court for a status conference hearing on October 8.