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Inquiry into two slayings expanded

Detectives who normally focus on other crimes have joined the investigation into the deaths of a Clearwater couple. Scores of people have been interviewed.

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published August 4, 2006

CLEARWATER - Detectives who normally handle burglary or white-collar crime cases have joined the team of police investigating the deaths of a couple whose bodies were found Wednesday in their partly burned home.

The team has interviewed scores of people, including relatives, friends and "people on the periphery," and it expects to question many others, police spokesman Wayne Shelor said Thursday.

"The detectives still have not defined precisely what they have here," Shelor said.

Linda and Frank Deluca, 59 and 60 respectively, who lived at 1502 Murray Ave., were found dead Wednesday morning with "obvious signs of criminal violence" to their upper bodies, Shelor said.

A fire had been set in the home in what detectives suspect was an attempt to destroy evidence. Authorities said an accelerant had been used to fuel the blaze.

Investigators had not determined a motive for the killings.

Thursday, they were continuing to sort through the crime scene to determine what, if anything, was missing from the home.

The couple were seen alive as recently as Monday, Shelor said, and neighbors reported seeing smoke coming from the home on Tuesday.

Their bodies were discovered about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

A friend of the couple called the home in the morning and became concerned when no one answered, police have said.

He visited the home and found the front door ajar.

Neighbors described the couple as friendly and generous and said they had no clue who would kill them or why.

Linda Deluca worked part time in marketing research. Her husband, who had owned several businesses, was on disability because of a heart condition, longtime neighbor Jill Maldonado said. They had two adult children and two grandchildren.

The Delucas met more than 30 years ago when Frank Deluca was in the military, Maldonado said.

They married and traveled often for his job before coming to Florida.

Police said the working-class neighborhood is not known as a hot spot for crime.

Jacob H. Fries can be reached at 727 445-4156 or jfries@sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 3, 2006, 20:08:29]