SON
CHARGED WITH MOTHER'S MURDER
ADDITIONAL CHARGES PENDING IN HOUSE FIRE AND DEATH
A 28-year-old Clearwater man was charged with Murder
Thursday morning, a day after his mother was found dead in her
burning home.
RUSSELL FREEMAN (10-13-77) was arrested several
hours after he came to Clearwater Police headquarters to discuss
with investigators the circumstances surrounding the Wednesday
afternoon fire at the 1150 Palm Bluff Street home he shared with
his mother, Diane Freeman. A woman, now positively identified
as Ms. Freeman, was found dead inside her home by Clearwater Fire
Department firefighters minutes after they extinguished the fire
at 2 o’clock Wednesday.
A number of circumstances at the scene led investigators
to suspect immediately that the fire wasn’t accidental, nor was
the woman’s death a result of the fire. After an examination of
the woman’s body Wednesday afternoon, Investigators concluded
the woman’s death was the result of criminal violence, and the
fire appeared intentionally set to obscure evidence of the crime.
An autopsy will be conducted by the Pinellas-Pasco
Medical Examiner today.
After being interviewed this morning by Case Agent
Detective Stephen Bohling, Russell Freeman was charged with one
count of Second-Degree Murder and booked into the Pinellas County
Jail. Detective Bohling said additional charges are pending, as
Investigators are still processing the scene of the fire and Ms.
Freeman’s death.
Clearwater Police Investigators worked closely with
Clearwater Fire Department Fire Investigators, the State Fire
Marshal, the Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner and forensics specialists
from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday night and
pre-dawn Thursday as they collected evidence at the Freeman’s
Palm Bluff home.
Investigators will be at the scene throughout most
of today.
This is the extent of information available regarding
this case at this time. For additional particulars, please contact
Public Information Officer Wayne Shelor at 727.562.4333.
/s/Lieutenant Mark Teunis
Assistant Commander: Criminal Investigations Division