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Letter to the editor

Police still unsure how mom, son died

By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
Published July 10, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Police believe someone killed Paula O'Conner and her 15-month-old baby boy, but autopsy results released Monday didn't resolve how the two died.

The Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner's Office said the cause of death would remain pending until a toxicology report was completed, which usually takes four to six weeks.

Police spokesman Bill Proffitt said detectives were investigating the deaths as a double homicide because of evidence at the crime scene that has not yet been made public.

O'Conner, 37, and her son, Alijah, were found dead Friday in her St. Petersburg home.

O'Conner had recently started a Web site called militarydeadbeatdads.com because she was angry at the military man she said was Alijah's father. She said he had disappeared and later learned that he was married.

Late Friday, police interviewed the man O'Conner identified as Alijah's father, 38-year-old Ralph "Ron" Wright Jr. Wright is a tech sergeant who works at MacDill Air Force Base.

Wright told police that he had nothing to do with the deaths. He could not be reached for comment Monday.

Police released photographs of O'Conner's black 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer to see if anyone saw it Friday. Police found the SUV parked at an apartment complex several blocks from O'Conner's home.

Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or 727 893-8472.

[Last modified July 9, 2007, 23:50:51]