Woman who killed herself in music store is identified

By Times Staff Writer
Published November 18, 2007

The woman who walked into the Hot Wax music store and smoke shop Friday evening and committed suicide has been identified as 35-year-old Barbara Ellen Godfrey by Tampa police. Godfrey walked into Hot Wax, 1524 E Seventh Ave. in Ybor City, shortly after 6 p.m. and talked to the owner before leaving a sealed suicide note and a bag of presents, police said. She then pulled out a .357-caliber handgun and shot herself.

Tampa police were still investigating the incident Saturday.

MADEIRA BEACH

Body found under store's floor

The skeletal remains of an unidentified person were discovered Saturday afternoon as construction workers made renovations to a Madeira Beach business, authorities said.

The business, formerly known as Wicked Gifts, is at 110 129th Ave. E in Madeira Beach. Around 3 p.m., workers discovered the remains beneath the floorboards at the business, according to reports. Pinellas County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives and crime scene investigators were trying to identify the remains and determine how they ended up beneath the floor.

Few details about the body were known Saturday night, officials said.

"Detectives and crime scene folks have been working to determine the race, sex and age," said Sgt. Jim Bordner, a Sheriff's Office spokesman.

The investigation into the case was ongoing.

TAMPA

Sewage leak closes Sligh Avenue

A sewer line break at about 1 p.m. caused the city's Public Works Department to close Sligh Avenue between N Rome and N Boulevard Saturday afternoon.

The leak, first thought to be a water main, rushed into the westbound lanes of Sligh, said Donovan Maginnis, a Tampa police spokesman.

Westbound lanes are expected to reopen today around 4 p.m.

[Last modified November 18, 2007, 00:28:28]