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Arrest, Discovery Of Body Ends Dunedin Standoff

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By The Tampa Tribune | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 13, 2008

  Neils Larsen

DUNEDIN - A standoff ended this morning with a suspect's surrender and the discovery of the body of a woman inside a Dunedin home.

Pinellas County sheriff's deputies charged 55-year-old Neils Christian Larsen III, 1222 Orange Ave., Dunedin, with second-degree murder, officials said. Deputies found the woman's body wrapped in blankets on the floor of his kitchen after officers fired chemicals into his home to force him out.

The woman, who suffered upper body trauma, had apparently rented a room at Larsen's home for about two months, deputies said. Larsen reportedly told officers he and the woman argued before the confrontation became physical.

The name of the victim, described as an older woman, was not released by the sheriff's office as they sought to confirm her identity and find her family.

Officers went to the home to check on Larsen's welfare about 1:30 p.m. Friday. Larsen initially spoke to deputies but then retreated inside, officers said. Deputies continued to try to make contact with him, and when he failed to respond, the SWAT team was called around 4 p.m.

Deputies persisted because the sheriff's office had received information that he might commit suicide, and he had gathered two propane tanks and three Freon tanks inside the home, officers said. Several homes in the neighborhood were evacuated.

After the SWAT team used chemicals, he walked out the front door and surrendered after midnight. While deputies were securing the home they found the covered body.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Clearwater Police Department assisted in the standoff.

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