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Mom finds daughter at home dead
By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
Published June 14, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG - Jennie Hartley's family hadn't heard from her in days, and Tropical Storm Alberto was approaching. So Hartley's mother visited the house at 1226 74th St. N Monday evening to make sure her daughter was all right. Instead, she found her daughter's body inside the doorway, St. Petersburg police said. Neighbors heard her distraught cries around 6 p.m. and called police. Jennie Hartley, 47, died from upper body trauma, said police, calling her death a homicide. Police were still going over the crime scene and could not say immediately if burglary was involved. "This is an especially brutal crime ... with the mother having to find her daughter in this manner," said police spokesman Bill Doniel. Police say they have gotten several anonymous messages from someone offering information about Hartley's death. Detectives hope that person will contact police again. "There's someone out there who knows something about this," said Detective Rick Shaw. "We'd like them to come forward and tell use what they know." Hartley lived alone in the quiet Azalea neighborhood in a house her parents purchased for her. She wasn't married, and leaves behind a grown daughter and four grandchildren. Hartley's family described her as a quiet woman with a big heart. She loved family gatherings, where relatives devoured her pineapple upside down cakes, black forest cakes and sweet-tasting baked beans. "She had her special dishes," said her brother, Roy Hartley, 41. She suffered from back pains, and didn't work. Her brother said she was very spiritual and watched Mass on television if she couldn't make it to church. "She was always cheerful, even when she was in pain," her brother said. Anyone with information can call police at 727 893-4937. Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8472.
[Last modified June 14, 2006, 05:52:03]
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