Page 40 - Florida Sentinel 12-17-21

Crime
Grand Jury Upgrades Murder Charge In Woman’s Death
Jury Convicts Man Of Sexual Battery
Last week, prosecutors with the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office obtained an indictment from a Hillsbor- ough County grand jury charging Robert Kessler first-degree murder.
Kessler, 69, of Lutz is ac- cused of killing 47-year-old Stephanie Crone-Over- holts, then dumping her dis- membered body into McKay Bay last month. Following a wide-ranging investigation, Tampa Police arrested Kessler and charged him with second-degree murder — acting with a “depraved mind” without regard for human life.
Working with Tampa Po- lice, the State Attorney’s Of- fice presented an indictment to the grand jury for the higher charge of first-degree pre-meditated murder.
Last month, body parts of
Ms. Stephanie Crone- Overholts, 47, of Pennsylva- nia began surfacing the same day she was reported missing
MS. STEPHANIE CRONE-OVERHOLTS
in Pennsylvania.
Kessler told police the
woman had stayed with him for a few days after meeting him at a local restaurant.
Police launched a death investigation after body parts were found in McKay Bay. Fishermen fishing in the area of McKay Bay observed what they believed to be a human body part floating in the water and contacted Tampa Police. Investigators con- firmed the body part was of human origin and launched the death investigation.
ROBERT KESSLER
The following day, around noon, other body parts was discovered near the Licata Bridge at N. 22nd Street in the water.
Police were searching for a 2008 Silver Hyundai Elantra with Pennsylvania license plate HDE6564. Investigators believe the car, which was lo- cated on November 16th, may be involved in the case.
The prosecution is in the early stages, and the State has not yet determined whether it will seek the death penalty in Kessler’s case.
A Hillsborough County jury found a Tampa man guilty of raping his girl- friend’s daughter while the mother was at work. The crime took place in April 2019 when the girl was 13- years-old.
Reco Johnson, now 37, served as his own defense at- torney. He accused the victim of her coming on to him. But he could not explain away the DNA results.
He did not take the stand in his own defense. He was found guilty of lewd and las- civious molestation and sex-
RECO JOHNSON
ual battery. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February 2022.
Man Charged With Murder Of Dover Woman
A 48-year- old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a mur- der. The of- fense took place on Wednesday, December 8th, in Dover.
was arrested last Friday after the Plant City Police Depart- ment received a call from an anonymous citizen who rec-
ognized the vehicle of interest in this case at the Walmart lo- cated at 2602 James L. Red- man Parkway in Plant City.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the 9400 block of McIntosh Road shortly after 10:15 a. m.
The deputies learned of the death of an adult woman who had upper body trauma. During the investigation, de- tectives developed a person of interest. Evidence led them to a man seen in the video wear- ing dark blue jeans, a black hooded sweatshirt and black Nike shoes.
The man, later identified as Richard Haywood, was driving a black two-d00r Dodge Ram pickup truck.
As the investigation con- tinued, additional informa- tion was gathered and Haywood was arrested and charged with the murder. He
RICHARD HAYWOOD
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