Tree trimmers find body near SR 54

Deputies say the body is badly decomposed and are searching the missing persons list.

By HELEN ANNE TRAVIS, Times Staff Writer
Published October 26, 2007

ZEPHYRHILLS - Pasco deputies are working to identify a body found in the woods near the intersection of Ryals Road and State Road 54.

Tree trimmers working in the area found the body Thursday morning, deputies say. The body may have been there for weeks, and its decayed state made it hard for deputies to immediately determine the sex or age.

"At this point, it's a possibility that it is a woman. We don't know yet, it's so badly decomposed," said Kevin Doll, spokesman for the Pasco Sheriff's Department.

The body was found in a sitting position. One end of a string was wrapped around its neck, the other end was tied to a tree branch about three feet off the ground. Deputies said they believe the person may have committed suicide.

The woods, located west of a First Assembly of God church and a Twistee Treat building shaped like an ice cream cone, are dense and covered in vines. The tree line extends above the power lines and palm fronds shield it from the road. The body was found less than 15 feet from SR 54, deputies say, near a tall scrawny tree with a no trespassing sign.

Donna Samonek, 79, lives across the street from the woods. She said she watched the trimmers from her kitchen window Thursday morning. One rose in a bucket above the road, it looked like he called out something to the others and they all ran toward him, she said.

"I thought someone got hurt," Samonek said.

Pasco deputies are searching their missing persons files for descriptions that might help them identify the body. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Alan Proctor tollfree at 1-800-854-2862, ext. 5015.

Helen Anne Travis can be reached at 352 521-6518 or htravis@sptimes.com

[Last modified October 25, 2007, 21:35:11]