CLEARWATER POLICE INVESTIGATE THREE UNRELATED HOMICIDES

Clearwater Police are currently investigating three separate and apparently unrelated murders and another shooting that have all occurred within the past week, Police Chief Sid Klein announced today.

In the first case the body of a partially clothed woman was found near the Rio Motel at 1488 Gulf to Bay Boulevard around 8:42 a.m, on Friday April 28, 2000. Marion Louise ("Missy") Cato, W/F, Date of Birth 01/10/69, no local address, was found in a narrow walkway behind a six foot wooden privacy fence that runs along the west side of the motel. Her death has been attributed to upper body trauma.

Police are asking anyone who may have talked with her or seen her between April 24 and April 28 to contact Detective Clarence Calloway at 727-562-4317 or email tips@myclearwater.com.

The second homicide occurred on Saturday, April 29, 2000, at approximately 3:00 a.m. Officers were dispatched to a report of several unknown subjects forcing their way into the apartment at 1007½ N. Osceola Avenue. Police found the resident, Mark A. Taylor, W/M, Date of Birth 12/19/60, dead at the scene. His death was also the result of upper body trauma.

Taylor’s girlfriend, Veronica Weaver, W/F, Date of Birth 02/16/64, of 1167 Turner Street, #101, Clearwater, suffered a minor head injury. She was treated at Morton Plant Hospital and released. Police are attempting to locate Brent A. Thomas, W/M, Date of Birth 01/16/73 who is a possible witness to the incident. Anyone with information related to Thomas or this case is asked to call Detective Dan Slaughter at 562-4316 or email tips@myclearwater.com.

UPDATE: Arrest made in the Taylor case on May 9, 2000; see news release.

The third murder occurred on Thursday, May 4, 2000, at approximately 10:20 p.m. Clearwater Police and Fire-Rescue were dispatched to a one-car crash at 200 S. Starcrest Avenue and discovered that the driver had been shot in the upper torso. The victim, Cesar Perez Hernandez, W/M, Date of Birth 08/27/79, of Clearwater, was pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital.

Police are looking for two vehicles that may have been involved in the incident. Witnesses described a white mid-size car with tinted windows and newer looking shiny chrome wheels with three to five sprockets. Apparently the disc brakes on the vehicle are visible through the wheels. Police want to talk to an unknown male subject, thin build, possibly Hispanic, who was last seen wearing a white short sleeve shirt and light-colored baggie, knee-length shorts. He was seen in the vehicle when it left the area.

Police are also looking for a maroon or burgundy colored car, possibly a 1994-1995 Ford Taurus, extremely dirty and in poor condition. No description of anyone in this vehicle is available. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Detective Juan Torres at 727-562-4318 or email tips@myclearwater.com.

UPDATE: Arrest made in the Hernandez case on May 10, 2000; see news release.

In the fourth case, police and paramedics were dispatched to 803 South Missouri Avenue at about 11:15 p.m. Thursday, May 4, 2000. Danielle Laprease, W/F, Date of Birth 03/25/78 of 12033 106th Street North, Largo, said she and a passenger were driving northbound in the 1400 – 1500 block of South Missouri Avenue when another car pulled in front of her. Laprease drove around that car, at which time a passenger in the other car fired four or five shots at her. One shot struck Laprease in the neck. Her passenger drove Laprease to 803 South Missouri Avenue and called for help.

Police are looking for a newer model light-colored Honda occupied by one black male, one white female, and a third subject for whom no description was available. Anyone who may have information relating to this case is asked to contact Detective Mark Weaver at 727-562-4367 or email tips@myclearwater.com.

UPDATE: Arrest made in the Laprease case on May 9, 2000; see news release.

Police are stressing that there does not appear to be any connection between any of the cases. And there is no reason at this point to think there is any danger to the general public. Anyone needing additional information is asked to contact the Acting Public Information Officer, Sergeant Doug Griffith at 727-562-4303, or email dgriffith@clearwaterpolice.org.