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Teen Says She's Haunted By Dreams Of Her Slain Dad

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2008

Updated: 10/22/2008 12:15 pm

TAMPA - Stephanie Fry keeps dreaming about her dead father.

James Patrick Fry, whose body was found Aug. 23 in his burned sport utility vehicle, was a homicide victim, deputies say. He suffered smoke inhalation and burns. No arrests have been made.

In a dream Tuesday night, Stephanie Fry said, her father told her that he didn't do anything to deserve his fate. She said she loved him, and he told her the same.

"I think my dad is trying to tell me something in my dreams – that they got the wrong person," said Fry, 18. "I don't want anybody to think I'm an idiot, think I'm crazy or anything, but that's what I think he's saying."

Firefighters were called about 2:10 a.m. Aug. 23 to a brush fire near Taylor and Skewlee roads in Thonotosassa. They found the Chevrolet SUV in flames near woods and found the 47-year-old South Tampa man's body inside.

A detective is supposed to pick up a picture from Stephanie Fry of her father with a woman sitting on a motorcycle, as well as several blond hairs she found on her father's bandanna, she said.

She recently pressed the detective for details about the investigation, but he told her he can't say anything until the investigation is complete, she said.

Fry and her father had been estranged for many years but reunited July 30, she said. The last time she heard from him was Aug. 22.

On Aug. 23, he was going to buy her a television for her new apartment. Then they were going to go to Livingston's Amusement Center to eat pizza and shoot pool.

He never showed up.

Roughly two months later, he is still not buried or cremated.

His body is in Brooksville, she said, awaiting cremation whenever she can pay $650 for the service. She is a student. She said she gets a stipend for her education that is barely enough for food.

Donations for the cremation can be sent care of the James Fry Service to Brewer & Sons Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 3328 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa FL 33629.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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