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Man Killed Estranged Wife And Then Himself, Police Say

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By VALERIE KALFRIN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 6, 2007

TAMPA - A white wreath with jingle bells hung on the door of 204 W. Flora St. on Wednesday. Deflated Christmas figurines clumped on the lawn.

Tampa police said the man who lived here, Humberto Cruz, 65, fatally shot his estranged wife Tuesday evening when she visited him, then killed himself.

The couple's survivors include two children younger than 9 years old, who were not at the house during the shooting, police said. They were with relatives Wednesday.

"Our hearts truly go out to the families in this case," Cpl. Jared Douds said.

About 7 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to Cruz's house to find Cruz's wife, Mindrey Rodriguez-Sanchez, 30, just inside the doorway, fatally shot.

The couple were divorcing and had been living apart, police said.

Cruz was not at home Tuesday. Police found him dead shortly before 7 a.m. Wednesday after people walking along North River Shore Drive near West Hiawatha Street reported a man lying on the grassy riverbank.

Police recovered his handgun and are investigating whether it was used to shoot Rodriguez-Sanchez, Douds said. Detectives did not find a suicide note.

No neighbors were around Wednesday afternoon at the apartment at 2514 W. Frierson Ave. that Rodriguez-Sanchez had rented.

Relatives at the Flora Street house and in South Carolina declined comment.

Public records show that Cruz, under the name Humbert Cruz, was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery in September. A Tampa police report states Rodriguez-Sanchez said he grabbed her around the neck during an argument.

Court records show the case was closed in November, with Cruz referred to a pretrial diversion program. He had no other criminal record, according to a check of Florida Department of Law Enforcement and national databases.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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