Slaying suspect's friend gave him up

The victim's widow wrote of repeated threats made by the accused.

By ABBIE VANSICKLE, Times Staff Writer
Published December 11, 2007

TAMPA - Police have released more information about the capture of Timothy C. Blackwelder, a 24-year-old Tampa man accused in the shooting death of George Anthony Stewart, also 24.

Blackwelder was arrested late Saturday by Georgia authorities, according to Tampa police. Stewart's missing 22-year-old wife, Brittani Stewart, was found with Blackwelder, unhurt.

After George Stewart was killed, police had immediately issued alerts for Blackwelder and for Brittani Stewart as well as her missing 2006 Dodge Caravan.

After the slaying, Blackwelder headed north in the Caravan, according to police. Brittani Stewart was with him.

Blackwelder called a close confidant several times, asking to have money wired to him.

The confidant, whose name was withheld, contacted police.

Investigators traced Blackwelder to Valdosta, Ga., where he was taken into custody.

Brittani Stewart told investigators that she went with Blackwelder because she feared for her safety. No charges have been filed against her.

Blackwelder is being held in Georgia, pending extradition to Florida. Police say he tried to hang himself Sunday night while he was in custody.

Brittani Stewart's mother, Kim Tibby, 41, said her daughter, herself a mother of 2-year-old twin girls, was trying to recover from the ordeal.

"She's doing good," Tibby said. "She's holding up as strong as she can, just taking care of business."

Tibby said Blackwelder was "obsessed" with her daughter.

The pair had known each other for years. At one point, Tibby said, "They sort of dated." She called the relationship "irrelevant" to what happened and said her daughter declined to comment.

In a November court injunction, Stewart asked for protection from Blackwelder. She wrote she had previously filed for an injunction but dropped it because she "got scared."

She wrote that on Oct. 30 and 31, Blackwelder threw her on a bed and wouldn't let her go.

"He ... held my wrist down and started screaming at me that if he couldn't have me then no one would," she wrote.

Blackwelder threatened her with a knife and said, "Ya know, if I want you dead I can kill you now," she added.

"I have twin babies. ... Please help us!" she concludes.

Abbie VanSickle can be reached at vansickle@sptimes.com or 813 226-3373.

[Last modified December 10, 2007, 23:42:58]