Elderly couple slain in rural Hernando County

[Shadow205]

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Investigators on Monday found a sport utility vehicle that belonged to an elderly couple who were discovered slain in their rural Hernando County home, authorities said.

Deputies found the bodies of Patrick DePalma, 79, and Evelyn DePalma, 84, on Sunday after worried relatives called authorities. They lived in an area called Masaryktown, south of Brooksville near the Hernando-Pasco county line.

The cause of death hasn't been released, but the county sheriff's office said in a release that they "died a violent death."
Investigators found the DePalmas' Kia Sportage, which was spotted Monday morning near the home, and were examining it for clues, authorities said.

more at the link http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/c...ple_Slain.html

[Shadow205]

Found this while looking for more information on the original post in this thread:

Elderly couple found dead

A Brookridge man shot his companion and then himself, deputies say. It's the county's first murder in over a year.

By ASJYLYN LODER
Published October 2, 2006


BROOKSVILLE - An elderly Hernando County couple were found dead in their home Sunday morning after an apparent murder-suicide.

Anthony X. Viola Sr., 91, shot Athena P. Howell, 82, before turning the gun on himself, said the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

A suicide note was found at the scene, but its contents were not released. It's the first murder in Hernando County in nearly two years, said Donna Black, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/02/He...e_found_.shtml

Well, that LE agency sure got a douple whammy!

[Shadow205]

MASARYKTOWN — The results of an autopsy on a Masaryktown couple found dead Sunday revealed that they were stabbed to death, the Hernando Sheriff’s Office said today.

The investigation into the murder of Patrick and Evelyn DePalma is ongoing and there have been no arrests.

Sheriff detectives were looking for a man wanted for questioning in the case and release his photo to the press. The Sheriff's office said he was found but is not a suspect.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingne...y_couple_.html

[Belinda]

Joel Anderson and Dong-Phuong Nguyen, Times Staff Writers
In Print: Thursday, August 7, 2008

David "Alex" Bostick is working toward a future that seems tantalizingly within his reach: finishing classes for his high school diploma, becoming an auto mechanic and turning his recent 20-day stint in prison into a distant memory.

snip

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office remained bullish Wednesday about its investigation into the grisly October 2006 slayings of Patrick and Evelyn DePalma, a day after prosecutors revealed they were not prepared to press first-degree murder charges against Bostick — the first suspect arrested in connection with the crime.

"We're going to stand by our arrest," said Sgt. Jim Powers, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office. "We had probable cause to make the arrest. … This case is far from being over."

A Hernando County grand jury on Tuesday indicted Robert Jardin, 33, of Brooksville on two counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery, armed burglary and grand theft in the stabbing deaths of the DePalmas in their Masaryktown home. But the prosecutor's refusal to charge Bostick, 18, a distant relative of the elderly couple, revealed a significant twist in the high-profile DePalma investigation.

snip

Bostick's attorney, Michael Maddux of Tampa, would like to see a quick resolution so Bostick can move on with his life.

"The prosecution can only proceed with a good-faith basis to believe they can prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt and have a conviction upheld on appeal," Maddux said. "We have cooperated. Our cooperation has demonstrated this standard cannot be satisfied. We are anxious to have this horrible allegation put to rest."

Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office plans to continue its push to solve the crime. Spokesman Powers said two detectives are working on the case, but he declined to go into any details about the investigation, including whether there is still a third suspect.

"We're going to the fullest on every issue," Powers said. "This investigation is far from concluded, and we don't want to jeopardize that. But we stand by our arrests."

Assistant State Attorney Pete Magrino said it was possible — but far from certain — the Sheriff's Office could file charges against Bostick again.

"That aspect of the investigation is still ongoing," Magrino said. "As of (Tuesday), there was still insufficient evidence to merit the presentment of that."

More at link.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publics...icle760743.ece

[Belinda]

By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: March 13, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Prosecutors announced this week they are seeking the death penalty against a man accused of murdering an elderly Masaryktown couple.

Robert Jardin, 33, was arrested last July in connection with the brutal stabbing of Patrick and Evelyn DePalma in their home on Korbus Road.

The couple, who had grandchildren living in Spring Hill, were found dead by a close family friend in October 2006. More than a year passed before investigators linked Jardin and a teenage relative, David Bostick, to their murders.

Bostick remains under suspicion but has yet to be formally indicted by a grand jury.

Assistant State Attorney Pete Magrino said after Jardin's pre-trial hearing on Thursday the decision to seek the death penalty was made after months of discovery.

More at link.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar...death-penalty/

[Belinda]

Robert Jardin

Charges:
2 counts - 1st Degree Murder
1 count - Burglary While Armed
1 count - Robbery with a Deadly Weapon
1 count - Grand Theft

06/10/2010 - Motion Hearing
04/29/2010 - Pre-Trial and Motion Hearing

[Kat]

http://www2.hernandotoday.com/conten...ryktown-murde/

By TONY HOLT | Hernando Today

Published: August 24, 2010

Updated: 06:35 pm

None of Jardin's fingerprints were found at the scene, but other forensic evidence found in the house belonged to the defendant, including traces of his DNA left on an open container of milk, said Magrino.

When detectives interviewed Jardin and searched his vehicle in the summer of 2008, they found a set of keys that belonged to the DePalmas.

They also found several more stolen items from the victims' house, including a vacuum cleaner, a watch and stereo system, Magrino said.

Magrino described the interview detectives had with Jardin in July 2008. He said the defendant frequently lied.

When asked whether he knew the DePalmas, he said he didn't. When asked whether he had ever been to the house, he said he hadn't. When asked whether he had heard of the highly publicized murder of the Masaryktown couple, his answer again was "no," said Magrino.

Defense attorney Alan Fanter's opening arguments lasted only a few

More at link.