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SCSO: Suspect named in several home invasions

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By NATALIE SHEPHERD | News Channel 8

Published: October 5, 2009

Updated: 10/05/2009 04:56 pm

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Delmer Smith

A 38-year-old man has been charged in connection with at least four home invasion cases.

The Sarasota Sheriff's Office charged Delmer Smith, III today with three counts of home invasion robbery, four counts of false Imprisonment, and two count of sexual battery, for attacks on Carmilfra Drive, Osage Terrace and Whispering Sands Drive. Smith is also charged with home invasion robbery and false imprisonment for an attack on Bougainvillea St. All of these charges are in Sarasota County.

Smith has been in custody since September 10, when Venice Police arrested him on a federal warrant for probation violation. At that time, investigators discovered he was the suspect in a North Port burglary. Smith had several laptop computers and other electronics, linking him to the Sarasota cases, according to officials.

Two of the laptops belonged to victims in Bougainvillea St and Carmilfra St attacks. DNA also links Smith to these attacks, Sarasota investigators say. Sarasota investigators compared Smith's DNA to a sample taken by the Federal Department of Corrections in Indiana and got a match.

Sarasota County Sheriff Thomas Knight said Smith had been serving time at a federal prison in Indiana for auto theft and armed robbery. While incarcerated, he corresponded with a Bradenton woman. Following his release, he came to Bradenton and married her. When that didn't work out, he moved in with a girlfriend in North Port, Knight said.

"The families of our community must no longer fear a ruthless predator," said Knight.

Smith is a prime suspect in a number of other unsolved home invasions in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Sarasota investigators say and the investigations are ongoing.

Smith has remained in the Pinellas County Jail since his arrest on September 10.

He is refusing to talk to investigators, Knight said.

"We would hope, and think and wish that an individual that has this propensity for violence would be man enough to talk to our investigators," he said.

Natalie Shepherd can be reached at (813) 225-2703.

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