Detectives say the suspects pushed their way into Josephine Nuvolone's home looking for drugs.
By JAMIE JONES
Published May 22, 2003
PORT RICHEY - Pasco sheriff's detectives arrested two teenagers on murder charges Wednesday afternoon, saying they killed a 67-year-old Port Richey woman while stealing narcotics from her home Monday night.
David James Elkin, 16, and Gary Lee Farrington, 19, were arrested on charges of first-degree murder. Both live at 8608 Frontier Trail in Port Richey, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.
Detective Pete Weekes said the pair went to Josephine Nuvolone's condominium on Radcliffe Circle, planning to rob her and steal Dilaudid. The men tied Nuvolone's hands with a dog leash and Farrington choked her, Weekes said.
Meanwhile, a woman who was with the men searched the house. Detectives did not release the woman's name Wednesday, saying they still were searching for her.
Sheriff's spokesman Jon Powers said Nuvolone, who worked in the county permitting department, apparently had sold the woman Dilaudid - a painkiller - before. He said detectives do not yet know how many people bought drugs from Nuvolone.
In an interview, Elkin told detectives that they arrived at Nuvolone's home about 5:15 p.m. Monday. He said they pushed their way into her second-story condominium and then shoved Nuvolone to the floor, an arrest report states.
He said Farrington put his knee in Nuvolone's back and wrapped his hand around her throat. Elkin said they tied Nuvolone with a dog leash while the woman searched for money and drugs. Elkin said they stole drugs, two guns and a telephone.
Detectives said Farrington told a similar story during a taped interview.
He said they went to Nuvolone's home because their female friend had bought Dilaudid there and knew she had more. He said they stole the telephone so Nuvolone could not call for help if she got up.
Nuvolone's co-workers worried when she did not arrive for work Tuesday morning at the West Pasco Government Center, and two supervisors drove to her condominium. They discovered Nuvolone's body and called the Sheriff's Office.
Co-workers and neighbors described Nuvolone as a friendly, outgoing woman who had lived alone since her husband, Raymond, died of cancer in February. She was often seen around the complex, for adults 55 years or older, walking her dog, a black schnauzer.
Farrington's criminal record includes charges of possessing cocaine, narcotic equipment, marijuana and burglary tools. Elkin has faced burglary charges.
Farrington was held without bail Wednesday night at the Land O' Lakes jail. Elkin was transferred to the county's juvenile assessment center, according to a jail spokesman.
