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Murder suspect held in Vermont

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published April 4, 2007

CLEARWATER - Police have arrested a man in Vermont who they say killed a 26-year-old Clearwater man two years ago and dumped his body on the Courtney Campbell Parkway.

Detectives would not detail the evidence against Dominic A. Coretto, 37, saying they were continuing to investigate several issues surrounding the murder of Larry Paul Sanders II. Among them, they said, were Coretto's motive and whether he acted alone or with help.

Sanders was initially attacked at 226 N Mars Ave. in Clearwater while apparently making a drug delivery, police say, and Coretto lived at that address at the time.

"Obviously, we have our working theory, but we still have many witnesses we need to talk to," Clearwater police Sgt. David Dalton said.

Authorities in Vermont, working with Clearwater and Tampa detectives, arrested Coretto March 27 on a second-degree murder charge. Officials plan to extradite him to Pinellas County.

A couple strolling along the Courtney Campbell Parkway found Sanders' body on the morning of March 15, 2005. The couple ran about a quarter-mile to the boat docks and told Tampa city workers about the body.

Dalton said Tuesday that Sanders died from "blunt force trauma" to his head, but would not say whether a weapon was used in the slaying. Investigators believe he was killed the night before or earlier on the morning his body was found.

Sanders, who was survived by one daughter, was a lifelong resident and graduated in 1996 from Clearwater High School, where he was a punt returner for the varsity football team. He attended St. Petersburg College and had completed classroom training in real estate sales and had worked in telemarketing.

Coretto and Sanders had known each for at least several months before the slaying, Dalton said. Their relationship revolved around drugs, which Sanders had occasionally sold, he said.

State law enforcement records show that in 1997 Clearwater police charged Sanders with possession and sale of cocaine. He pleaded no contest, and the court withheld a finding of guilt.

Five months after the killing, Clearwater police arrested Coretto on a cocaine possession charge.

He later pleaded guilty and received 18 months' probation.

Dalton said investigators continued to track Coretto, who worked as a self-employed contractor, until his arrest last week.

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

[Last modified April 3, 2007, 20:51:43]