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Pasco Sheriff Tries To Soothe Neighbors Of Slain Man

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By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 29, 2008

PORT RICHEY - A day after neighbors found an 82-year-old man dead and his wife left bound for about 10 hours inside their Timber Oaks home, most of the yellow crime scene tape was gone.

But deputies were still in the 55-and-older neighborhood investigating and trying to quell the nerves of residents.

This afternoon, a few forensic technicians' vehicles and marked cruisers sat in front of Joseph and Roberta Wido's home at 10519 Quimby Drive while they looked for evidence.

About 2 a.m. Thursday, the couple awoke and found a masked man in their bedroom. Joseph Wido, 82 and about 6-foot-3 and weighing more than 220 pounds, tried to defend his home, officials said.

"We know that when he was confronted in the bedroom in the home, he was protecting his wife and his home," Sheriff Bob White said Friday.

The Bronze Star recipient gave warning to the intruder, White said.

"I can take you on," Roberta Wido told detectives she recalled her husband telling the man.

Shortly after, Wido was killed in his bedroom while his wife, 79, looked on, White said. Authorities aren't saying exactly how he was killed.

At some point Roberta Wido was bound, and the intruder stayed in the home for up to 30 minutes, White said.

"He took his time," he added.

Officials won't say whether anything was stolen or how the man got in.

Neighbors noticed the Widos' newspapers hadn't been picked up Thursday morning – which was unusual – started walking around their house and heard Roberta Wido's cries for help shortly before noon Thursday.

She was not physically harmed, aside from marks left by the restraints.

Investigators think this was a random attack. They say that is unusual in home invasions, which generally are drug-related and carried out by people who know the victims.

"The suspect may have tried to enter some other houses on the street," sheriff's office spokesman Kevin Doll said today. Homes were found that show evidence of recent break-in attempts, Doll said.

Detectives are following up leads they have received since word got out about the home invasion and slaying.

Sheriff White has vowed to beef up patrols in the otherwise quiet neighborhood, which is just west of Little Road and south of State Road 52. There is no recent history of violent crime.

Marked patrol cars have been present since Thursday, and unmarked cruisers will patrol the area, White said.

White was there Thursday afternoon.

"It's a very elderly community, and the folks I talked to were quite fearful," he said. "They need our reassurance."

He vows to make the residents feel safe. "We're pursing this case with great vigor," White said.

The sheriff asks that anyone who saw anything out of the ordinary contact authorities.

Pasco detectives are looking for a man age 35 to 40, about 5-foot-9, weighing about 170 pounds. He is thought to have dark eyebrows, dark eyes and dark hair. He was wearing a white baseball cap with the No. 20 in black lettering, a white T-shirt, bluejeans and red cloth gloves. He is thought to be left-handed.

Roberta Wido told detectives he had a "Northern" accent.

Anyone with any information should contact the Pasco County Sheriff's Office at 1-800-854-2862.

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

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