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North Carolina Man Extradited In Pasco Slaying

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By GEOFF FOX | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 13, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - A North Carolina man accused of killing an 82-year-old Bronze Star recipient during a home invasion last year was extradited to the Land O' Lakes Jail on Thursday.

Francis Sicola, 27, of Yadkinville, N.C., was looking for prescription drugs when he broke into the Timber Oaks home of Joseph and Roberta Wido on Aug. 28, Pasco County sheriff's investigators say.

In January, Sicola was arrested and charged with the crime in North Carolina. It is unclear when his case could go to trial.

Joseph Wido tried to protect his wife, but was shot once and killed. Sicola then tied up Roberta Wido, leaving her on the floor beside her dead husband where she stayed for 10 hours before a neighbor found her, investigators said.

After the shooting, Sicola continued searching the home for prescription drugs but instead took money and jewelry, investigators said.

Detectives think Sicola hit four other houses in a matter of hours, including one in Bear Creek, not far from Timber Oaks, where he apparently left a black knit mask, the key to his arrest.

Investigators say DNA from the mask was tested at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime lab and pointed to Sicola, who had lived in Pasco and been arrested as a juvenile on several burglary charges.

Pasco detectives say witnesses also told them Sicola bragged of killing Wido.

Reporters Lisa A. Davis and Todd Leskanic contributed to this story. Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 779-4613.

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