Tampa man found stabbed

Police think the man, who was found at his home by his brother, knew his killer.

By EMILY NIPPS, Times Staff Writer
Published December 17, 2007

TAMPA - A 36-year-old man was found Sunday morning stabbed to death in his apartment at 3826 E River Hills Drive.

Claude Lee Kegler apparently knew the man suspected of killing him, said Tampa police Lt. Chuck Stanbro.

Kegler's younger brother, who also lives at the apartment, told police that the man came to the apartment Saturday about 11 p.m. and began banging on the door, looking for Kegler.

The brother, whom police did not name, went to bed shortly after the man arrived. The brother woke up about 6:45 a.m. Sunday and saw that Kegler's car was gone. He also noticed that the door was unlocked, which was unusual, Stanbro said.

The brother went back to bed and awoke around 8:30 a.m. and noticed that Kegler's car was still gone.

He then walked into Kegler's bedroom and found him naked and lying on the floor, stabbed to death.

"There didn't seem to be any signs of struggle in the bedroom," Stanbro said. "At this time, we haven't been able to figure out the extent of their the two men's relationship."

Kegler's family members could not be reached for comment. Kegler has no known criminal record and public records list him as phlebotomist at St. Joseph's Hospital, though a spokeswoman for the hospital could not confirm this Sunday.

The suspect was described as a black male in his late teens or early 20s who is between 5 feet 7 and 5 feet 10 with a thin build. He was seen wearing a white basketball-type jersey and black baggy pants.

Police are also looking for Kegler's car, a 1994 white four-door Ford Taurus.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Tampa Police Department at (813) 231-6130.

Emily Nipps can be reached at nipps@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3431.

[Last modified December 16, 2007, 22:17:28]