PALM HARBOR, Fla — A man was arrested when a concerned neighbor called 911 on Tuesday afternoon, saying the man told him that he "killed someone."
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said around 3:36 p.m., deputies arrived at 302 Shore Drive in Palm Harbor after receiving the call. There, they found the suspect, Matthew Weldon, 37, standing in front of the home covered in blood.
Weldon then told deputies, "he is dead," and pointed towards the home, according to PCSO. Deputies found the victim, Carroll Bryan, 49, lying on the back patio and suffering from multiple blunt force injuries to his head, neck and arm. He passed away at the scene.
Through an investigation, detectives said they learned Weldon and Bryan met at a local bar in Clearwater around two weeks ago.
Detectives said Weldon then offered to help Bryan, loaning him his vehicle around a week ago. Bryan, however, didn't return the vehicle on the agreed-upon time, and Weldon "became upset."
According to officials, Bryan arrived at the home with Weldon's vehicle on Tuesday, where the two got into an argument. Based on evidence from the scene, detectives said it appeared Bryan was struck in the back of the head while on the back patio before being struck repeatedly while lying on the ground.
Weldon suffered minor injuries. He was charged with second-degree murder and taken to the Pinellas County Jail.
Brides, families fighting for refunds after event venue closes suddenly
“We’ve struggled so hard to scrape the money to be able to do this for her,” Irizarry said. “She’s my only girl and I wanted this so much for her.”
Couples and families who had weddings and events planned at a well-known venue that abruptly closed claim they’re out thousands of dollars and aren’t being given refunds. Annette Irizarry was supposed to hold her 15-year-old daughter’s quinceañera in August at the Clearwater location and said she’s now out the $6,160 she paid. Without that money, Irizarry said she can’t afford to have her daughter’s celebration somewhere else.
