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Investigation Of Lakeland Shooting Death Has Detectives Tight-Lipped

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By CHRIS ECHEGARAY

Published: January 15, 2008

Updated: 01/15/2008 03:28 pm

A 17-year-old came home from school Monday to find his 45-year-old father shot to death in their Lakeland home.

The teen, Eric Theismann, told Polk County sheriff's deputies that he was staying with his mother for the weekend but came home Sunday evening to get some clothes. That was the last time he spoke with his father, Vincent Thomas Theismann.

After school on Monday, when the teen retuned to their home at 3910 E. Country Loop, he found his father's body, sheriff's officials said.

Donna Wood, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said detectives are keeping much of the information close to their vests as the investigation continues. She could not say where in the house Theismann was shot, where on his body he was struck or whether anyone in the neighborhood heard gunfire.

She said she hoped more information could be released soon.

A call to Theismann's former wife and his son was not immediately returned.

Laura Theismann, Vincent Theismann's first wife, said she and Vincent divorced many years ago, before Eric was born to his second wife. She said she got a call Monday evening from one of Theismann's sisters.

"It's been a few years since I've been in contact with him," she said. "I'm just completely numb. I can't believe it."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at (863) 534-6379 or (863) 533-0344.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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