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Port Richey Man Killed During Home Invasion

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By LISA A. DAVIS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 29, 2008

PORT RICHEY - For nearly 10 hours, a 79-year-old woman, bound by the intruder who killed her husband, waited to be discovered inside her Timber Oaks home.

A neighbor went into the couple's home and found Roberta Wido physically unharmed, except for the marks from her restraints, and Joseph Wido, who was apparently dead, sheriff's office spokesman Kevin Doll said.

The 82-year-old man was pronounced dead after Pasco Fire Rescue paramedics arrived at the home, 10519 Quimby Drive, shortly before noon. Doll wouldn't reveal how the man was killed.

"Unfortunately, we believe the surviving victim did see her husband murdered," Doll said.

The Widos had been sleeping in their bedroom about 2 a.m., Doll said, when they were awakened by a man who was masked with either a bandanna or rag.

Sheriff's deputies cordoned off a large section of the neighborhood tucked behind a wall west of Little Road just south of State Road 52, allowing only residents inside the yellow tape. More yellow tape prevented anyone but law enforcement and some homeowners from walking within the crime scene of about four houses on each side of Quimby Drive.

The Widos' home, painted a light cream with peach accents and a tile roof, had a neatly manicured lawn with a white statue and gazing ball, like many of the surrounding homes in the 55-and-older community.

Marleen Ruchotzke, 70, was taking her regular afternoon walk rounding Tapestry Drive to Quimby when she noticed the media gathered around the corner.

She was startled to learn what happened.

"This is new to us," the 16-year neighborhood resident said. "This is a very private neighborhood. It's quiet. This is why I think people are surprised."

Jan Davis, 48, who with her retirement-age husband lives in the community, was stopping cars that pulled in Thursday afternoon to let drivers know they might not be allowed beyond the yellow tape.

"We just moved in, in February. I'm going to go home and lock the doors," she said, looking over her shoulders.

She moved to Timber Oaks because she was searching for a safe community.

"We moved from St. Pete Beach because we figured deed restrictions, retirement community. I mean, what's going to happen here?" she said. "I'm terrified."

Pasco detectives are looking for a man age 35 to 40, about 5-foot-9, weighing about 170 pounds. He's thought to have dark eyebrows, dark eyes and dark hair. He was wearing a white baseball cap with the No. 20, a white T-shirt, blue jeans and red, cloth gloves. Roberta Wido told detectives he had a "Northern" accent.

Anyone with any information about this case may contact the Pasco County Sheriff's Office at 1-800-854-2862.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis1@tampatrib.com.

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