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Victim's Son Focus Of Double Slaying

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By LISA A. DAVIS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2008

SHADY HILLS - Detectives are focusing their investigation on the son of one of the victims in the recent homicide just south of the Hernando County line, a Pasco County sheriff's office spokesman said.

Acting on a tip about two "drug dealers," Pinellas County deputies picked up Jackie Lee Braden and another man just before midnight Monday at the Holiday Inn Harborside Hotel in Indian Rocks Beach.

Braden is the son of Sherrill Shelton Wright and stepson of David Ray Wright, whose bodies were found Monday night inside their home at 18101 Moorhaven Drive after relatives went to check on them.

Braden, 36, and Christopher Jay Catalano of Tarpon Springs were found inside a room where 40 to 60 pounds of marijuana and $194,000 in cash were discovered, according to a report.

David Wright's 2005 silver Toyota Tundra also was found at the waterfront hotel and impounded, according to sheriff's officials.

Catalano has not been named in connection to the homicides.

The Wrights' causes of death were homicidal violence, but specifics about how they were killed have not been released. It is thought they died between Feb. 7 and the night they were found. Both were 54.

Neighbors say the family mostly kept to itself and Braden seemed to bounce back and forth, living at his mother's home where he was staying recently and elsewhere.

Denise Hammond, 61, and her daughter Michelle Dillow, 40, said they haven't heard anything out of the ordinary in recent days or recent months since Braden returned to the house next door.

"They were quiet, nice neighbors. You never even heard any rowdiness or any of that," Hammond said Wednesday. "If there were family problems it was something they kept to themselves."

She didn't know Braden but had seen him around and couldn't fathom the possibility of him being involved with the Wrights' deaths.

"I would hate to think he could do something like that to his own family," Hammond said.

Pinellas deputies arrested Braden and Catalano without incident on charges of conspiracy to traffic marijuana and armed trafficking charges. Braden also was arrested on a charge of cocaine possession

During a first-appearance hearing Wednesday, Pinellas County Judge Paul Levine didn't find probable cause on the conspiracy to traffic marijuana charge, said Ron Stuart, spokesman for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Braden's bail was set at $100,000.

According to arrest affidavits, Braden was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he was taken into custody.

Deputies found crack cocaine in his right, front pants pocket. A .357-caliber Magnum handgun was found in the hotel room, according to an affidavit.

Pasco detectives continue investigating the homicides.

"We're still gathering information," said Pasco sheriff's office spokesman Doug Tobin. "At this point, we don't have probable cause to make an arrest."

The Pasco sheriff's office is asking anyone who has information about Braden's whereabouts during the past week or anything about the homicides to contact Detective Lisa Schoneman at 1-800-854-2862, Ext. 7473.

The Wrights' neighbors were still looking for answers Wednesday.

"I hope to heavens that they get to the bottom of this quickly," Hammond said, "but that's not going to bring my friends and neighbors back."

Reporter Stephen Thompson contributed to this report. Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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