MANATEE — Kathleen Briles died a violent death, police confirmed Tuesday, sending shockwaves of fear and sadness through the slain 48-year-old’s Terra Ceia neighborhood and the rest of the community.
Briles, wife of Dr. James Briles, was killed sometime Monday in the couple’s home, detectives have determined. Dr. Briles came home from work just before 8 p.m. to find his wife dead, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Randy Warren said.
“There is evidence that violence was involved,” Warren said.
Warren declined to say how Briles was killed as detectives conducted an extensive sweep of the Briles’ home in the 200 block of Bayshore Drive. The sheriff’s office closed Bayshore Drive for hours as the investigation continued.
Briles’ slaying pierced the normally tranquil community that straddles U.S. 19 north of Terra Ceia Bay.
“We’re in shock,” said Julie Roberts, a Terra Ceia resident. “We feel like we live on this bucolic island and things like this don’t fit.”
Detectives conducted dozens of interviews with the Briles’ family, friends, coworkers and business associates.
“We are talking to a lot of people,” said Warren.
He declined to say if there are any suspects, but said there appeared to be no indication Dr. Briles was involved in his wife’s death.
“This investigation is really wide open right now,” Warren said. “We are looking at everything.”
The Briles family has been cooperative with the investigation, he added.
“A lot of people know Dr. Briles in this community, and I am sure there are many people who are certainly saddened for his family,” Warren said.
Warren said Dr. Briles was in an unknown location grieving Tuesday.
“This has just been a terrible shock today,” said Dr. Raymond Raitz, James Briles’ colleague at the North River Family Health Center, where they have practiced for more than 20 years.
Becky Smith recently struck up a friendship with Kathleen Briles when they both joined the Bradenton Toastmasters, a group in which members work to get better at public speaking in front of crowds.
Smith said she and Briles had planned to go to a Sarasota comedy club Saturday. Briles worked hard in the group and often made passionate speeches about her family, her beloved cats and a recent drive she pushed to collect soccer balls to send to Iraq for American troops, who could give them to children there.
“She was quiet, but friendly,” Smith said. “Always prepared and always working hard. I just feel so badly for her family, she talked about them so much. For somebody’s last moments to be like that, it is just terrible.”
Sandra Miller, the Briles’ neighbor two doors down on Bayshore Drive, said Kathleen Briles had a passion for nursing stray cats back to health.
“She was a homebody, and very fond of animals,” said Miller. “I am just so shocked and saddened for Dr. Briles and his family. It is just terrible and tragic.”
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