PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Detectives said in a release Monday morning that a man was stabbed and killed by a resident during what appeared to be an attempted burglary early Monday morning.
It happened on the 4000 block of 68th St. N. in unincorporated St. Petersburg. The deceased was identified as 23-year-old Chase Richardson.
"My husband watched them give CPR," Linda Frappier said.
Investigators say Richardson was a resident at the Savannah Group home, located at 6881 40th Ave. N. in St. Petersburg. Authorities say Richardson has some mental disabilities.
Richardson says she doesnt know a lo about the group home, only that they take care of adult men with brain injuries, or mental illness.
"No. Never had a problem, Frappier said. "I have a grandson I worry about that now cause he likes to play out and now I’m worried about that happens again."
According to Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Richardson got into a verbal confrontation with another group home resident early Monday morning.
Staff separated the two and Richardson, who was agitated, went back to his room, slamming the door and locking it. Staff members eventually were able to unlock the door, but Richardson had already escaped the home by crawling out the window. A staff member left the group home to try to find him.
Meanwhile, investigators say Richardson had gone one block east to 68th St. N.
At about 5:00 a.m., deputies were dispatched to the area for a subject banging on doors and windows of numerous residences and yelling erratically.
After yelling and banging on several homes, a homeowner reportedly confronted him through a sliding glass door, telling him to leave.
Richardson left, but went to the side of the house where he broke through the master bedroom window.
The wife ran out of the room and the man, fearing for his family's safety, stabbed Richardson as he attempted to enter through the window.
He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
A woman who answered the door at the group home told us they could not give us any information.
Deputies say the the case is still being investigated and will give an update when more information is available.
APD Communications Director Melanie Mowry Etters released this statement on Wednesday:
“The Agency for Persons with Disabilities is extremely saddened by the death of a group home resident in St. Petersburg. The Savannah Group Home, where this individual lived, has no history of critical incidents. Additionally, the Department of Children and Families and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office are conducting investigations into this death."
