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Family asks help in solving murder
By MIKE BRASSFIELD
ST. PETERSBURG -- Patricia Hodges' life revolved around her grandchildren. She had nine. She babysat them, doted on them and took them to the park to play. Now Hodges' children have to explain to the grandchildren why their grandmother isn't there anymore. On Saturday, Hodges' four adult children who live in St. Petersburg stood outside the apartment where Hodges was killed a few days ago. They asked for help in solving their mother's murder. "She was the kind of person who always had the door locked. She never answered the door for a stranger," said her youngest son, Shawn Gertsch, 34. "If anyone saw anything out of the ordinary, please call the police. Any clues would help. For an elderly lady to be violently murdered in her own home . . . " "They can remain anonymous," Gertsch said. "It would mean the world." Hodges, 64, lived alone in an apartment at 6100 Dr. Martin Luther King (Ninth) St. N. She was found dead in her bedroom at 11 a.m. Thursday by her friend and neighbor, 77-year-old Vivian Heacox. Heacox said nothing appeared to be disturbed in Hodges' apartment; the door was locked, and there was no obvious sign of a struggle. St. Petersburg police have not said how Hodges died and have said little else about the case. "The detectives have been working today and are still in the process of developing leads," police spokesman Rick Stelljes said Saturday. Hodges' children don't know what happened to her, but they know their family has suffered a devastating blow. "She was a great mother, I'll tell you that," Gertsch said, overcome with emotion. "None of us can sleep. It's hard to eat, to keep focused." Hodges retired about five years ago. She had lived in her apartment for three years. Her children had been trying to get her out of the apartment, they said, because it's in a busy commercial district with a lot of pedestrian traffic at night. The apartment is just a few feet from Dr. Martin Luther King (Ninth) Street. Hodges' children, who all have the last name Gertsch, stood outside her door Saturday and held photos of their mother. There was Scott, 43; Sue, 41; Stacey, 38; and Shawn. Her oldest child -- Steve, 45 -- lives in Germany and is traveling to Florida for the funeral. Anyone with information was asked to call Detective Glen Henry, (727) 893-7164.
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