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Lunde's mother faces trial on drug charges
By CANDACE RONDEAUX
Published February 1, 2006
TAMPA - When Kelly May looks back on the last year she will likely remember it as one of her worst.
First, her 13-year-old daughter, Sarah Lunde, disappeared in April. Then, days later, the girl's battered body was found in a Ruskin fish pond. Next, investigators fingered May's ex-boyfriend, David Lee Onstott, as her daughter's murderer.
Now May is facing possible prison time herself. Months after Lunde's murder, May was in court Tuesday for a hearing on multiple drug charges. Looking nervous and unsure of herself, May, 41, barely looked up as a prosecutor detailed the case against her and nine other defendants.
"She's been through a lot," said May's Tampa attorney, Dustin Hay.
Arrested on Aug. 25 at 3340 Ridge Road, May was charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and possession of cocaine, both felonies, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. Hay said May had been "more or less accused of buying drugs" from the other co-defendants.
"This has nothing to do with what happened to her daughter," Hay said.
In May, Onstott pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty. His next court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 27.
May's appearance before Hillsborough Circuit Judge William Fuente Tuesday was not her first before a judge. Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show she has several arrests dating back to 1989 for writing bad checks. Days after Sarah's body was found a few miles from May's Ruskin mobile home, May was arrested for driving under the influence.
Until her daughter's brutal murder last spring, however, May had managed to steer clear of drug related charges. Now it appears she could be troubled by the same struggles that have plagued another Tampa Bay area mother whose daughter was murdered: Susan Schorpen.
Two weeks ago, St. Petersburg police arrested Schorpen on charges of crack cocaine possession and misdemeanor prostitution. Schorpen's daughter, Carlie Brucia, 11, was abducted, sexually assaulted and strangled by Joseph Smith in February 2004.
The murder in February of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford in Citrus County intensified media scrutiny of Schorpen and May.
On Tuesday, Fuente set a November trial date on May's recent drug charges.
Candace Rondeaux can be reached at 813 226-3337 or rondeaux@sptimes.com
[Last modified February 1, 2006, 01:02:08]
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