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ShotKills Runaway Girl, 15

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TBO.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 10, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG - A body discovered Friday morning in a vacant lot is that of a 15-year-old girl reported as a runaway a month ago, St. Petersburg police said. She had been shot.

The body of Malayshia Kierra Gamble was found at 8:10 a.m. at 856 Preston Ave. S., St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt said.

Malayshia, who lived at 4510 20th Ave. S., was reported missing by her mother, Coretta Gilmore, on Dec. 6. Her fully clothed body was found in the vacant lot Friday about 20 yards from the street.

The girl's grandfather, Luis Scenewson, told News Channel 8 that Malayshia has run away before, but her family doesn't understand why anyone would kill a 15-year-old.

He said family members would chastise him for helping out the girl with money now and then, saying she didn't deserve it. He said he saw a good side in her despite her unusual behavior.

"I loved her," he said. "I loved her so much. ... I'm just in a state of shock."

On Thursday, neighbors near the lot reported hearing an argument between a man and woman, followed by gunshots, between 10:30 and 11 p.m. It has not been determined whether that was connected with the girl's death, Proffitt said.

Temple Terrace SunTrust Robbed

A lone gunman robbed SunTrust Bank in Temple Terrace on Friday morning and then stole a bank employee's car to make his getaway, authorities said.

The robbery occurred shortly after the bank, at 11253 N. 56th St., opened at 8 a.m., police said. The man had a silver handgun. After he got an undisclosed amount of cash, he demanded car keys from an employee, police said.

He hopped into the employee's red 2003 Toyota Solara convertible, which has a black top, and went north on 56th Street, police said.

No shots were fired and no one was injured.

Anyone with information should call the Temple Terrace Police Department at (813) 989-7710.

Sex Offender Seeks New Trial

TAMPA - A 78-year-old mental health therapist who faces up to life in prison is asking for a new trial on a federal charge that he drove to the Tampa area to sexually and physically abuse two boys he thought would be made available by their father.

Charles Friedlander of Fort Myers is scheduled to be sentenced in March. He was convicted in December in a case involving an undercover online sting by law enforcement.

Friedlander's attorney filed the motion seeking a new trial on the grounds that the trial judge erred when he allowed prosecutors to introduce evidence of Friedlander's past chats with another undercover law enforcement officer about having sex.

A staff report

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