Suspect found in Tampa killing

A Zephyrhills man, who had the slain man's car, is arrested in Texas.

By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS, Times Staff Writer
Published December 10, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Wesley Bonham was found dead Friday in his apartment at the Breckinridge Apartments complex near USF. [Handout]

TAMPA - Early Sunday morning, authorities in Kendall County, Texas, tracked down a missing car and arrested 22-year-old Joshua Wilkins of Zephyrhills.

Hillsborough County sheriff's detectives were soon on the way to interview him about the death of an Oklahoma man looking forward to being home for Christmas.

Wesley Bonham was so deeply rooted in Oklahoma, the 28-year-old had never lived beyond the state's borders.

Then, this year, he took a job in Tampa, selling gym memberships for Lifestyle Family Fitness.

"This was his big adventure," said David Bonham, his father.

Bonham drove to Tampa with his son in late May. He thought he'd see him for Christmas.

Wes Bonham was found dead Friday in his apartment at 14511 Valor Circle, the Breckinridge Apartments complex near USF.

Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies said the death was a homicide caused by trauma to the upper body.

His rental car, a 1998 Honda Accord with an Oklahoma license plate, was missing.

Texas authorities tracked down the car and arrested Wilkins. He is charged with reckless driving, two counts of resisting arrest and driving an authorized vehicle.

Jim Wilkins, Joshua's father, did not know of his son's arrest until contacted by a Times reporter Sunday morning. His car was missing, too, Wilkins said, adding he had not seen his son in almost a week.

Pasco County records show Joshua Wilkins has been arrested several times, with charges including larceny, trespassing, carrying a concealed weapon and burglary of a church. He was first arrested at age 12.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office had not filed any charges against Wilkins. Deputies planned to travel to Texas on Sunday night to interview him.

David Bonham wonders why anyone would've killed his son.

"We're totally absorbed in trying to imagine that, but without more clues, we're very much at a loss," Bonham said.

Bonham doesn't know how to begin telling his son's friends - he had so many of them, at least 100 dating back earlier than high school. Their numbers must be on his cell phone. Bonham wondered if deputies found it.

Alexandra Zayas can be reached at azayas@sptimes.com or 813-226-3354.

[Last modified December 9, 2007, 22:31:56]