TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

1st-Degree Murder Charge Filed In Child's 2006 Death

ADVERTISEMENT

By TODD RUGER

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

Patrick Dewayne Murphy

SARASOTA COUNTY - A grand jury returned a first-degree murder indictment Tuesday against the man accused of raping and killing 6-year-old Coralrose Fullwood.

The indictment allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Patrick Dewane Murphy, 27, who was arrested last month after police said his DNA matched DNA found on the North Port girl's body.

Assistant State Attorney Lon Arend said there has been no decision on whether seek the death penalty, but he will file paperwork to keep the option open.

Murphy lived two miles away from Coralrose's North Port home when she was taken in the middle of the night in September 2006.

Detectives said they still think there are other people who were involved in the crime.

Prosecutors also filed a capital sexual battery charge against Murphy that carries an automatic life sentence with a conviction.

Prosecutors did drop a kidnapping charge. Arend said the charge would make the trial longer and take focus away from the two charges that both carry mandatory life prison sentences.

"The kidnapping charge does nothing to make this case better," Arend said.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT