Manatee County murders up 71.4 percent

MANATEE -- Manatee County ended the year 2015 by reporting 62.5 percent of all homicide investigations were closed successfully -- including the deaths of children, victims in drug deals gone bad and robberies turned deadly.

Detectives with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office Homicide Investigative Unit closed 15 of 24 homicide cases with an arrest or an active warrant for a suspect.

Nine murders remain under investigation. The sheriff's offices urges the public to provide additional information or witness testimony to increase the rate of successfully closed cases.

"We just need cooperation in solving these cases," spokesman Dave Bristow said. "The majority, you have to have the public's help."

The number of Manatee County homicides rose 71.4 percent the year after 2014 when 14 people were murdered.

"They are a little higher than normal," Bristow said. "But with homicides, there is just no rhyme or reason."

Unlike other crimes such as burglary for example, murders are difficult to predict.

"There is not a preventable measure," he added. "The majority of these, drugs are involved and that hasn't changed in years. The majority of homicide cases over the years have been drug or domestic related."

Lt. Darin Bankert, whose oversight includes the homicide unit, agrees murders are difficult to prevent. He doesn't believe homicides rates are out of control, he said.

"It's just a reflection of an increase of population," Bankert said. "You can't compare 2000 to 2015."

Crime commissions will continue to rise as the population grows, he added.

The first day of the new year saw three homicides.

At 5:14 a.m. New Year's Day, deputies responded to a home in the 5700 block of 11th Street East in Bradenton after receiving a 911 call from a relative who had found Demetrius Robinson, 37, and his girlfriend, Florence Randall, 31, shot dead. The relative went to the couple's home in the triplex and found their bodies.

While a motive has yet to be established, detectives say they believe the couple was targeted.

A few hours later, deputies were called to another deadly scene.

Between 12:45 p.m. and 1 p.m., deputies were called to the 500 block of 60th Avenue Terrace West in Bradenton to reports of gunfire. They arrived to find Julio Tellez, 26, shot to death outside the front door of the home. A 29-year-old man was also shot in the forearm and taken to a local hospital. A third victim was uninjured, according to the report.

There have been no arrests in either case despite long hours put in by the homicide unit. Detectives expressed frustration with the lack of community cooperation.

It's the second time in two weeks someone was shot in broad daylight, homicide detective Ben Main said. He and other homicide unit members urge anyone who knows anything about any of their cases to speak up.

These 2015 cases remain open:

Anthony Shinholster, 57, of Bradenton, was found unresponsive by a friend -- known to be a prostitute -- about 1 a.m. Jan.18.

"It is still under investigation," Bristow said. "We still, obviously, invite any information."

Alexander Vantrez Williams Sr., 27, was found laying in the roadway in the 1300 block of 26th Street East, Palmetto. Just as the victim was discovered, a 911 caller reported a shooting with injuries.

The sheriff's office believes up to three suspects were involved in the fatal shooting based on evidence at the scene and eyewitnesses who say up to three people were walking quickly away following the gunshots.

Fritho Exantus, 35, of Bradenton, was killed March 24 when witnesses say three suspects entered an Avalon Square apartment, 3506 14th St. W., and shot him. The shooting is possibly drug related, Bristow said.

Tyrone Rhodes, 40, of Bradenton, was found dead from a gunshot wound inside a vacant home known to have squatters in the 100 block of 60th Avenue West, Bradenton. Four people inside the residence at the time of the shooting said they heard gunshots, didn't see a gunman, but did see Rhodes stumble before collapsing. Drugs are thought to be involved in the case.

Lathawn Turner, 40, was found shot dead at 3:29 a.m. Aug. 27 inside a car when deputies responded to the 2300 block of First Avenue East to reports of gunfire. Detectives have a possible suspect vehicle, Bristow said.

David Joseph Ritch, 34, died at 6:20 a.m. Aug. 29 at a hospital where he was being treated for a gunshot wound. At 11:30 p.m. the night before, a wounded Ritch walked into a Walgreens store in the 5700 block of 18th Street East and reportedly later told deputies he had been walking along 18th Street East in Ellenton when he was shot

"We do have a person of interest in that and we are still building a case," Bristow said.

Dominic Orr, 27, was found shot death outside Atlantis Gentlemen's Club, 3800 U.S. 41 N., Palmetto, when deputies responded to reports of shots being fired. Suspected shooter Durrell Jones, seen leaving the scene, was later questioned.

All the evidence has pointed self-defense in the case, which is being reviewed by the State Attorney's Office.

Knowellan Kelly, 15 months old, died at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg. Deputies were called Dec. 13 after he was transported from Manatee Memorial Hospital the previous day. Investigators had been called to Manatee Memorial regarding suspicious circumstances involving the toddler.

Knowellan died of injuries consistent with child abuse, according to an autopsy. The boy had been staying with his mother and her boyfriend, according to the sheriff's office.

The investigation is ongoing but no one has been charged.

Kevin McCants, 27, was called to a car in the 1000 block of 33rd Avenue East in Bradenton at 11:45 a.m. Dec. 19 and shot to death.

Several witnesses identified Robert Eugene Brewer, 20, as the shooter, according to authorities. Up to three other men were believed to be in a black Toyota Camry with Brewer, which drove off after McCants was shot.

The case remains open but detectives have a warrant for Brewer's arrest. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Many 2015 cases have been closed:

Mickaella Moreta, 59, was found dead Feb. 19 along with Stephen Zaslow, 78, in a home in East Manatee after a friend reported receiving a letter in the mail from the couple and checked on them. Evidence revealed Zaslow shot her and then himself as part of a suicide pact.

Manual Galindo Oquendo, 32, of Mulberry, was found by a resident about 5:30 p.m. March 12 on the side of Davis Grade Road, several miles from State Road 62 near Duette in eastern Manatee County. He had been shot and killed nearby before his body was dumped. That case was closed with three arrests.

Alex Kinchen, 17, was indicted on first-degree murder charges April 2 but no trial date has been set yet. Odilen Vela Mendez, 20, is charged with second-degree murder but no trial date has been set. Kinchen and Mendez are next scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Jan. 14 for a case-management hearing. Kayla Jordan, 19, was charged with being an accessory to murder by the Polk County Sheriff's Homicide Unit.

Oscar Cortez-Ruiz, 24, of Palmetto, was found lying in a driveway in the 500 block of 60th Avenue East at 3:30 a.m. March 29 after being shot in his car, according to deputies. He had taken someone home from the El Paisano Restaurant and Bar at 5803 15th St. E., when deputies say another car drove up and Alfonso Cano-Cano got out and shot him.

The case was closed with Cano-Cano's arrest. Cano-Cano reportedly told detectives he shot Cortez-Ruiz because of a fight between the two of them that occurred two years before. The case is set to go to trial in March.

Alexander Marr, 4, of Bradenton, was found unresponsive around noon April 12 when deputies were called to the duplex where the boy lived with his mother, Dianna Marr, and her boyfriend, Trevor Cardarelle, in the 700 block of 59th Avenue Terrace West. An autopsy found Alexander suffered traumatic injuries to his head and torso. The case has been closed with three arrests.

Diana Marr and Trevor Cardarelle are each charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child. Their cases are set for trial in March. Karla Kay Gray, Dianna Marr's mother, was charged with failure to report child abuse.

Kantrel Brooks and Ester Deneus, both 29, of Bradenton, were shot in their home in the 3900 block of Southern Parkway West in Bradenton just before 4 a.m. July 9. Police said the couple's five children, between the ages of 1 and 11, were in the home at the time of the shootings. The case was closed with three arrests.

Terez Jones, 33, Jimmie McNear, 19, and Trey Nonnombre, 18, have all been indicted with first-degree murder. All three are set to go to trial beginning April 10, 2017. The State Attorney's Office will seek the death penalty.

William "Quincey" Pollard, 17 months old, lived with his mother and Richard Williams, 35, in the home they shared in the 6200 block of Rosefinch Court in Lakewood Ranch at the time of the toddler's death July 11. Williams, who had been caring for the toddler while his girlfriend was at work, called her frantically saying there was something wrong with the toddler. An autopsy showed Quincey died from blunt-force trauma to the head, which caused his brain to swell, which the medical examiner said would have happened within an hour of his death. Williams told detectives the toddler slipped in the bathtub. Charged with second-degree murder, he is set to stand trial in July.

Justin Fabien, 16, was shot dead Aug. 10. Witnesses told police he and a group of teens exited a car in an East Bradenton neighborhood, and Jamari Lamon Murray-Barnes, 17, stepped behind Justin and shot him in the head and neck. This case was closed with the arrest of Murray-Barnes, who is charged with second-degree murder. His next scheduled court appearance is at 9 a.m. Feb. 25.

Keyvis McCullough, 30, was found with multiple gunshot wounds at 1:14 p.m. Sept. 5 outside a home in the 700 block of 12th Avenue West, Bradenton, after police received a 911 call reporting a man had been shot. Police found McCullough with gunshot wounds. He died at Blake Medical Center as a result of his injuries.

Kelly McPherson, 23, who reportedly shot McCullough in front of his 1-year-old son, was charged with second-degree murder. His next court appearance is at 9 a.m. Jan. 14.

Khasem Yousef, 23, and Faares Yousef, 17, were working at their family owned Snappy's Mart, 559 17th St. W., Palmetto, when investigators say Devin Chandler walked into the store around 2:30 p.m. Sept. 7, picked up an item and walked to the counter. Detectives say he pulled out a handgun, first killing the older brother standing next to him, and then shooting the younger brother standing behind the counter. Both brothers were shot in the head. The case was closed following Chandler's arrest with the cooperation of his mother.

Chandler was indicted with first-degree murder and the State Attorney's Office has said it will seek the death penalty.

Jose Luis Mendoza-Aguilar, 30, was shot by Juan Carlos Ramirez at 5:52 p.m. Oct. 17 after an argument near the corner of 23rd Street East and Sixth Avenue Drive East, police said. Mendoza-Aguilar died a little more than five hours later at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton.

Ramirez, 30, was charged with second-degree murder with a firearm. He appears in court next at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Janiya Thomas, 11, was found dead inside a cardboard box in a padlocked freezer Oct. 18, just two days after the girl was officially reported missing to the Bradenton Police Department by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office Child Protective Investigative Division. Her eldest sister told investigators she saw their mother, Keishanna Thomas, tie Janiya's hands and feet and dunk her head in water. The bathroom Janiya was normally locked in was cleaned out she was never seen again alive.

Thomas, 31, was indicted with first-degree murder, abuse of a dead body and aggravated child abuse. She appears next in court at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 18.

Kenye Cooper Sr., 26, was shot dead following a shootout Dec. 16 at a home in the 1000 block of 61st Avenue Drive East in Bradenton. Cooper and Fredrick Dinel Smith, 24, had come to the home where Napolean Hale, 37, and another man were allegedly playing video games and a shootout erupted. The case was closed with the arrest of Hale and Smith.

Hale is charged with murder and being a felon is possession of a firearm. Smith is charged with murder.

Homicide detective Jim Curulla urges the community to assist in closing more cases.

"We just need cooperation in solving these cases," Curulla said. "The majority, you have to have the public's help."

The homicide unit wants to close all the cases they have, he said.

"I think we are fortunate to be able to give some justice to families of the victims," Curulla said.

Anyone with information on any of these cases should call the Manatee County Sheriff's Office at 941-747-3011, ext. 2519, remain anonymous and eligible for a cash reward call Crimestoppers at 866-634-TIPS or submit an e-tip online at 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 January 2, 2016 at 9:59 PM with the headline "Manatee County murders up 71.4 percent ."