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Sheriff: Lakeland Man Killed 93-Year-Old Dad, Went Dancing

Image Courtesy Polk County Sheriff's Office

The video shows Robert Farley singing along to the Temptations song "Papa Was a Rolling Stone."

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 7, 2009

Related Links

• Watch Farley Singing, Dancing
• Listen To The 911 Call

Robert Farley

LAKELAND - A videotape released today shows Robert Farley dancing and singing hours after he killed his 93-year-old father, authorities say.

The videotape shows Farley dancing and singing along to "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" at the Red Rose Inn in Plant City.

Farley, 63, is charged with killing Walter Farley on New Year's Eve. Authorities say he was shot four or five times with a .38-caliber handgun that was recovered Saturday from Lake Wire.

The Farleys shared a house on Indian Heights Drive for about four years. On New Year's Eve, Robert Farley and his wife, Mary, left Walter Farley at home at 5 or 5:30 p.m. and headed to the Red Rose Inn. Once there, Mary Farley took prescription medication and fell asleep. Authorities also say Robert Farley went home alone at 6:30 or 7 p.m.

Farley told investigators he informed his father he was going to leave his wife because she was ill and would require a wheelchair.

The two fought and shots were fired, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Farley then rummaged through the house and took some items to make it look as though there had been a home invasion, Judd said.

He then returned to the Red Rose Inn, where he and his wife -- who investigators think was unaware of what had occurred – "had a wonderful evening of dinner and ballroom dancing," Judd said.

The videotape released by the sheriff's office today supports the claim.

The next morning after breakfast, the couple returned to the Lakeland home, where, according to Robert Farley's original statement, he found his father dead and called 911.

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