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Woman's death suspicious

Authorities release few details other than she had "unexplained trauma to her body.''

By LORRI HELFAND AND EILEEN SCHULTE
Published June 19, 2007

LARGO - Police are investigating the suspicious death of a woman found unconscious at the Forest Creek Apartments late Thursday.

Officials on Monday released few details, but said there are "multiple suspicious circumstances" surrounding the death of Victoria Lynn Wilson, 46, who suffered "unexplained trauma to her body."

"There's the possibility of foul play, " said Largo police Sgt. John Trebino, who noted there are inconsistencies in the statements of people interviewed at the scene.

Police released no other information about Wilson's cause of death, potential suspects in the case or the timetable for the investigation. Trebino said the Medical Examiner's Office could take weeks to complete its work.

Police are saying very little about what they've learned to avoid compromising the investigation, he said.

In particular, Trebino said, investigators don't want to release information that could "taint" the accounts of people whom detectives have yet to interview. Police still have to talk to a considerable number of people, some of whom are spread out, he said.

The case began late Thursday, when rescuers responded to Apartment 905 at 13500 Rodgers Ave. for what came in as a medical call. Police arrived at 11:52 p.m., and Wilson was taken to Largo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Officers had been called to the apartment a week earlier about someone who was suicidal and that person was Wilson, police said.

Wilson's family could not be reached for comment Monday.

Neighbors at the Forest Creek Apartments said Monday evening that they didn't hear any commotion the night of Wilson's death.

None would give their names, but one described Wilson as a kind soul, and some said she kept to herself. They mainly saw her coming and going, taking out the trash or walking a dog that looked like a basset hound.

Monday evening fingerprint dust was still smeared on the door of the bottom-floor apartment, which had a welcome mat near the door.

Lorri Helfand can be reached at lorri@sptimes.com or 445-4155.

[Last modified June 18, 2007, 22:31:43]