Suspicious death investigation in New Port Richey

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - The house is surrounded by so many trees, you can't even see it.  Not from the entrance on US 19, or the residential side on Astor Drive.

Using Google Maps, a satellite photo gives a better look at the property that even includes a small lake.

"The windows are broken out of the house.  You can hear activity at night there," said neighbor Tara Armstrong, who lives right next door.

no one has lived there in over a year, and she says she worries about what goes on inside the foreclosed home.

"I've seen people go back there. Obviously it's abandoned. Nobody should go back there," said Armstrong.

New Port Richey Police say a 48-year-old Hispanic man was murdered back there.  Crime scene investigators spent Tuesday morning going through the house.

It's right behind the Citgo Gas Station owned by Zee Mithwani.

"It's sad to hear that because it is a good neighborhood," said Mithwani.

Mithwani says he's heard of drug use and prostitution going on back there, creating a nuisance for a neighborhood lined with upscale homes along the Cotee River.

"Either demolish the place, or either put up lights or something.  Or just keep a better round of cops around so something like this doesn't happen," said Mithwani.

Police hope they may come away with a strong lead. That's because there is a surveillance camera on the pawn shop next door to the Citgo, and it's pointed directly at the home's front gate.

Detectives with the New Port Richey Police Department are looking for any witnesses or anyone who may have seen people go into that house over the weekend.

If you have any information, call police at 727-841-4553.