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Break-In, Slaying Worry Seminole Neighborhood

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 12, 2008

LARGO - Pinellas County Sheriff's Office detectives said Wednesday that the death of a man in a Seminole home is unrelated to a nearby home invasion.

Meanwhile, verifying the identity of the Hispanic man who was found slain at 13937 85th Terrace N. on Tuesday may take some time because he was not in this country legally, Sgt. Jim Bordner said.

He was among about 15 people staying at the house and who also worked at Super Buffet at Seminole Mall, Bordner said.

One of the owners of the home listed in county property records, Hanny Lau, is also listed in state corporation records as the vice president of Super Buffet.

As the slain man and most of the others living at the address were in this country without permission, the sheriff's office has contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bordner said.

The occupants of the home are Chinese and Mexican nationals, none of whom speak English, Bordner said.

Sheriff's officials also released a description Wednesday of the suspects in the man's death. They were described as three men who wore dark long-sleeve shirts, pants, sunglasses and rags wrapped around their heads, Bordner said.

They arrived at the home in an unidentified vehicle and then drove off, he said.

The neighborhood, meanwhile, remained on edge.

"We really don't know the facts," said Laurie St. Martin, a neighbor. "And somebody might be loose out there, and we've got children and family, and we're worried. This is the first time we've seen something like this happen in our neighborhood, and I've lived here for 12 years, so it's scary."

Someone called about noon Tuesday to say a man was injured at the home in unincorporated Seminole. Deputies found the man dead inside.

About the same time they were called to the address, they received a report of a home invasion some distance away, at 10881 61st Ave. N. They worked to see whether the two crimes were related.

Wednesday, sheriff's officials said the crimes were not related. At the home on 61st Avenue North, two men wearing masks and dark clothing entered through a garage door. One of them had a handgun.

The two men demanded cash from a 50-year-old woman who was babysitting her 2-year-old grandson, sheriff's officials said. The woman, who was not identified, gave the men an undisclosed amount of cash and they left.

News Channel 8 reporter Chip Osowski contributed to this report. Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at spthompson@tampatrib.com or (727) 451-2336.

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