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Suspect In Fatal Purse-Snatching Charged Again

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By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2009

Lisa Michelle Dillard

Steven Anthony Cruz

LAND O' LAKES - Lisa Michelle Dillard, the woman charged as an accomplice in a fatal purse-snatching in November, is accused of snatching a purse weeks before.

After seeing news reports about the mugging and subsequent death of Linda Roma at a TJ Maxx in Hudson, another victim recognized Dillard as the woman who also snatched her purse Nov. 8 at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Port Richey, according to a report.

The victim pulled up Dillard's mug shot from the Pasco sheriff's office Web site and positively identified her as the thief, a report states.

Dillard, 39, of 16916 Bachmann Ave., Hudson, is in the Land O' Lakes Jail, charged as an accessory after the fact in connection with the Roma case.

On Thursday, Port Richey police arrested Dillard at the jail on a misdemeanor petit theft charge. She is being held without bail.

On Nov. 12, Roma, 62, and her daughter, Jennifer, were leaving TJ Maxx when a man approached them and tried to steal the elder woman's purse. Roma fought back and was flung to the ground and hit her head on the pavement. She died the next day.

Steven Anthony Cruz, 38, has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the purse-snatching death.

Investigators say Dillard drove the getaway car. She and Cruz were arrested two days later near County Line Road and U.S. 19. Pasco detectives used surveillance video taken from a nearby Wal-Mart to find the pair. The video, taken about an hour after Roma's death, showed Cruz, Dillard and a third man enter the store. It also showed Cruz attempting to use one of Roma's credit cards at the jewelry counter, authorities said.

Cruz is being held without bail.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.

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