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$15,000 Reward Offered in '96 Slaying

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By The Tampa Tribune | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 9, 2007

TAMPA - TAMPA - Richard McPeak is tired of waiting.

"I was told to be patient," he said. "I've been patient."

But enough is enough. His brother, Troy, is long dead and three people he says played a part in the Jan. 7, 1996, homicide remain free. Today, Tampa police announced a $15,000 reward posted by Richard McPeak for information leading to the arrests of the three men thought to have helped in the beating.

Troy McPeak was 24 when he was found strangled in Giddens Park just south of Hillsborough Avenue and east of Nebraska Avenue. But before that, he was severely beaten.

"My brother was beaten and cut with broken bottles," Richard McPeak said in a telephone interview this afternoon. "One of the detectives told me that my brother fought for his life for 15 or 20 minutes."

Police at the time arrested Emillio Demon Jenkins, who told detectives who his accomplices were. Jenkins eventually was convicted of second-degree murder and is serving a 22-year prison sentence. But the accomplices, who acknowledged being present at the time but denied taking part in the homicide, remain uncharged.

"The only injury to Jenkins was a hurt foot from stomping my brother," Richard McPeak said, "and a cut on his hand from stabbing him."

He wants the three alleged accomplices charged and is hoping people in the community who know about the case and have information will come forward.

"Every day that goes by, people's memories fade," he said.

"I'm trying to prevent any other family from going through what my family went though," he said, adding the three men in question have been arrested numerous times since his brother's death. They are not being named because they have not been charged.

"The state attorney is sure these guys helped murder my brother," Richard McPeak said, "but what you know and what you can prove are two different things."

Anyone with any information about this case can call Tampa police at (813) 231-6130.

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