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Woman Charged With Evidence Tampering

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By CHRIS ECHEGARAY

Published: September 12, 2007

Updated: 09/13/2007 07:17 am

TARPON SPRINGS - Police arrested Candace Marie Taylor on Wednesday on a charge of tampering with evidence in a drug-related killing.

Taylor, 18, of 3829 Holiday Lake Drive, Holiday, helped a suspect try to destroy evidence that may have been left on a gun, Sgt. Barbara Templeton said in a statement.

Candace Taylor

Police said Taylor assisted Robert Maniatis -- who died of an apparent overdose in August and was a suspect in a homicide -- in dismantling and discarding a 9mm Beretta in the Anclote River in Pasco County. Detectives recovered the firearm.

The body of Maniatis was found at a motel on U.S. 19 in Pasco County on Aug. 22.

Detectives determined Taylor knew that the weapon was used in the killing of Michael Steele, Templeton said in a statement.

Taylor also knew that Maniatis had shot Steele over a drug transaction, according to police. Steele, 25, was found dead on a sidewalk at the Riverside Apartment complex on Aug. 20 in Tarpon Springs.

Taylor gave conflicting statements and attempted to mislead them, police said.

Bail was set at $5,000.

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