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Documents Give Details Of Lutz Family's Slaying

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TBO.com

Published: August 14, 2008

Updated: 08/14/2008 02:55 pm

TAMPA - Barbara Freiberg went to her daughter's mobile home May 12 after a babysitter called to say Freiberg's grandchildren had not been dropped off.

The babysitter thought that was strange, Freiberg said. So Freiberg went to the home in Lutz and knocked. Nobody answered, and the doors were locked. She unlocked the front door, but she couldn't open it because it was blocked by her grandson's body.

Freiberg could tell he was dead.

Inside the home were the mutilated bodies of Lisa Freiberg, 26, and her children, Heather Savannah, 2, and Zachary, 7.

Deputies found Edward Covington hiding in a closet.

On May 14, Covington told deputies he killed all three, according to court records.

Information about Freiberg's discovery process was contained in more than 100 pages of documents released today by the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office. A court order temporarily has prevented more than 100 additional pages from being released.

Also included in the discovery was a list of items taken from the home, including several knives and hammers and swabs from a possible bite on a female victim's left arm.

The discovery also mention noises Lisa Freiberg's neighbor heard May 11 – the day Freiberg died, according to deputies.

Ricky Russell, 45, who lives near Covington's home, says in a written statement released today that he woke up about 6 a.m. May 11 to a pounding sound. He told investigators he thought it was a dog's tail. He left about 7:15 a.m. to pick up his friend Wes, and when he came home about 7:35 a.m., he continued to hear pounding.

Russell confirmed today that his friend climbed a ladder that morning and saw someone in Freiberg's trailer beating something. Russell declined to comment further.

Information not released today in discovery includes a 911 call, crime scene video and compact discs containing an interview of Covington.

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