No arrests in 7 of 17 Manatee County murders this year

MANATEE -- With the recent double murder in Palmetto taking the yearly homicide total countywide to 17, Manatee County Sheriff's Office detectives continue to investigate seven open cases in hopes of making arrests.

The unsolved murder cases all remain active, according to sheriff's office spokesman Dave Bristow, and suspects are under suspicion in four of the homicides. Still, work remains to be done.

"We certainly welcome any new information on these cases," Bristow said.

The unsolved murders began early in the year.

On Jan. 18, Anthony Shinholster, 57, of Bradenton, was found unresponsive by a friend in a home near the Pride Park neighborhood. He was declared dead moments later by paramedics. Shinholster was an associate pastor at Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in Bradenton, according to his sister.

Detectives say the motive for the killing was robbery and have developed a person of interest, Bristow said.

The second unsolved murder occurred Feb. 28. Deputies on patrol in Palmetto found Alexander Vantrez Williams Sr. shot dead in the roadway in the 1300 block of 26th Street East. A 911 call had reported a shooting with injuries.

Detectives believe this fatal shooting to be drug related but do not have a person of interest, Bristow said. Three males were seen walking near the scene, however, he added.

The third unsolved murder occurred March 24 when 35-year-old Fritho Exantus came home from a nightclub to the Bradenton apartment he shared with family. Witnesses told detectives three suspects entered the Avalon Square apartment, 3506 14th

St. W., and shot and killed Exantus.

Motive for the Exantus murder is unclear and detectives have not identified a person of interest, according to the sheriff's office.

Three days later, deputies were called to the 100 block of 60th Avenue West, Bradenton, to investigate a shooting inside a vacant home. They found Tyrone Rhodes, 40, of Bradenton, dead from a gunshot wound.

The home was known to attract squatters and as a gathering place for clandestine activities, officials reported. Detectives have developed a person of interest, Bristow said, and the shooting could be drug related.

The fifth murder occurred July 30. David Joseph Ritch died at local hospital of a gunshot wound. He walked into the Walgreens at 5945 U.S. 301 N. in Ellenton at 11:30 p.m. Saturday saying he had been shot nearby in the 5700 block of 18th Street East.

Detectives have identified a person of interest and have an idea what the motive was, but will not release it at this time, Bristow said.

The sixth murder happened Aug. 27 in the 2300 block of First Avenue East when Lathawn Turner, 40, of Palmetto, was found shot to death inside a car outside a Palmetto home.

Turner had been released from prison Aug. 1, 2014, after serving almost seven years of an eight-year sentence for multiple drug-related convictions.

Detectives are confident drugs were the motive for killing Turner, Bristow said.

Only in the most recent open murder case have detectives named a suspect.

On Sept. 5, witnesses told detectives Kelly McPherson walked up to Keyvis McCullough, 30, and shot him dead. His sister, 1-year-old son and the baby's mother were standing only about 20 feet away at the time.

McPherson, 23, is wanted on a charge of first-degree murder and believed to be armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information regarding any of the cases can call the Manatee County Sheriff's Office homicide tip line at 941-747-3011, ext. 2519, or remain anonymous and eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 by calling Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477 or send an anonymous e-tip to manateecrimestoppers.com.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "No arrests in 7 of 17 Manatee County murders this year ."