BRADENTON, FL -- The wife of a Manatee County doctor was bound before she was killed by blunt force, according to Manatee Sheriff Brad Steube.
The body of 48-year-old Kathleen Briles was found by her husband, Dr. James Briles, Monday night. She had been dead 4 - 5 hours, according to investigators.
At a Thursday morning news conference, Sheriff Steube said investigators found sign of forced entry into the Bay Shore Drive home.
"Kathleen was found bound. She was not shot. She was not strangled. She was not sexually assaulted. She died as a result of blunt trauma," Steube told reporters.
He said items were taken from the home, but would not elaborate. He said that over a two-day period, CSI investigators collected a "substantial amount of evidence," including blood samples, DNA, fingerprints and other forensic material.
Dr. Briles, who is an associate at a general practice health care facility, has been ruled out as a suspect.
Sheriff Steube said investigators are looking at possible similarities with other recent violent home invasions.
"I've been asked numerous times, can we relate this to other home invasions in both Sarasota and Manatee counties? We have not ruled it out," Steube said.
Detectives have gathered surveillance video from businesses near the home, but Steube would not say what investigators are looking for.
He said deputies will saturate the area with beefed-up patrols.
Anyone with information who can help detectives is asked to call the Manatee Sheriff's Office at
941-747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.
