BREAKING NEWS

Tampa attorney slain;
ex-wife jumps from
Skyway and survives

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 16, 2000

Tampa lawyer Grover Cleveland Freeman Jr., 54, was shot to death about 11:40 p.m. Monday at his Carrollwood home by his ex-wife, who beat up his current wife, drove to the Sunshine Skyway and jumped off one of its lower spans, surviving the plunge, authorities say.

Kathy Freeman broke both legs when she jumped from the bridge, Hillsborough sheriff's deputies have reported.

Freeman's current wife, Connie, was treated and released from a local hospital.

The shooting occurred at the home Mr. Freeman shared with his current wife at 3113 Mossvale Lane in Carrollwood. Mr. Freeman practiced law in the Tampa firm of Freeman, Hunter & Malloy.

Another arson in Ybor area

Another arson in the Ybor City area early Tuesday morning has damaged a house at the corner of Palm Avenue and 11th Street.

The fire, at 2018 N. 11th St., occurred in the same three-square mile area where more than 30 suspicious fires have broken out in the past year.

The one-story house was vacant and the fire was under control in less than 15 minutes, officials said. Police arrested a man near the scene of the fire for possession of marijuana, but there is no connection between him and the fire, which caused moderate damage to the house, said a spokesman for Tampa Fire Rescue.

A $30,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the string of suspicious fires.

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