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Teen Believes Body In Burned SUV Is Her Father's

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 25, 2008

Updated: 08/25/2008 04:42 pm

  James Fry

TAMPA - Stephanie Fry says she is pretty sure the man found in a burning vehicle Saturday was her father, James Fry.

They had a lunch date Saturday, she says. He was going to buy her a television for her new apartment in Sarasota. Then they were going to go to Livingstone's to eat pizza and shoot pool.

That never happened, which is why she thinks her father is dead.

"I got a call this weekend from Detective Mitch Messer" of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office," Fry says. "He said that they found the car, possibly with my dad in it. I am pretty sure it was him.

"He never missed one of my phone calls. He will never let anyone drive his car. I knew that from years ago; he would never let anyone drive his car. I know deep down in my heart he is dead."

Deputies have not yet identified a body found in a burning SUV about 2:10 a.m. Saturday near Taylor and Skewlee roads. They have identified the owner of the vehicle as Fry, 47, of 3011 Gandy Blvd.

Stephanie Fry, 18, says she spent much of her life in foster care and that her father recently came back into her life. Though estranged for many years, the two had become close since they reunited on July 30, she says.

She says she and her siblings were placed into foster care because of abuse from her grandmother and father.

The last time she heard from him was Friday afternoon.

"He was in a good mood, talking about what we would do this weekend," she says.

Her father made a living buying, fixing and selling used cars.

The next day, she was watching television when the phone rang.

It was Messer, telling her about the burning car.

Detectives, she says, checked her father's mobile home. It was locked. He had left his cell phone behind, but no wallet. The TV was blaring.

She says she believes her father was murdered but does not know who might have done it or why.

Without any autopsy results and no known cause of death, deputies are treating this as a death investigation, not a homicide, says sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway.

Deputies, he says, are still looking for Fry.

"This case remains very active," Callaway says. "We have not even identified the victim yet."

Callaway says he is aware of Stephanie Fry's suspicions about her father being murdered but would not comment further.

In the meantime, Fry says she is trying to figure out how to make funeral arrangements. "I am only 18, I have no idea," she says.

And find a lawyer.

"I was told he had a whole bunch of money in a bank account that he left," she says. "My dad talked about using the money for child support. Personally, I don't care about the money, but I want to make sure it goes to my brothers and sisters still in foster care."

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story contained an error. Deputies have not yet identified a body found in a burning SUV on Saturday. They have identified the owner of the vehicle.

Reporter Josh Poltilove contributed to this story. Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com.

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