Anna Maria Island, a small beach community in Manatee County where it seems like time has stood still. Vacationers come and stay at rental properties and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere. Island residents call it their hidden paradise.
However many residents who pass the Kingfish Boat Ramp along Manatee Avenue, are not able to forget a brutal crime that remains unsolved from some 30 years ago. It’s an unthinkable crime. The murder of four people, a nine year old boy, his 13 year old brother, their father, and just a few blocks away the murder of an innocent bystander.
The 30 year old case has ties from Tampa to Miami and was investigated by Holmes Beach Police Department and other agencies including the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Police never came up with a motive, caught the killer or closed the case.
For months ABC Action News has been speaking with dozens of people who were directly impacted by the case. They include investigators, retired detectives, prosecutors and eyewitnesses. Most of them have vivid memories of the crime and the investigation.
We would like to thank the Holmes Beach Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Manatee County Sheriff’s office for their help and support. The hope of this project is that you may have some information and can help catch a killer.
Select a photo below to explore this case further.
If you have important information about this case, please contact Detective Mike Leonard or Chief Jay Romine at the Holmes Beach Police Department at 941-708-5804.
The Gold Star Club is still offering a reward of $5000 for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the murders.
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