Dunedin man arrested in attack on girlfriend

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 25, 2000

DUNEDIN -- A Dunedin man was charged with attempted murder and domestic battery early Saturday after deputies say he struck his girlfriend in the head with a small "souvenir-type" baseball bat. Deputies went to the couple's house at 209 Grove Circle S about 3 a.m. after neighbors called to report a fight. The deputies found Michelle E. Cotton, 33, bleeding from the head in the front yard and her boyfriend, Nathaniel Bass Jr., 46, standing in the kitchen preparing to mop up blood, sheriff's reports said. Deputies found a small bat that appeared to have been recently washed. Cotton was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where she was in serious condition Saturday afternoon. Bass was held without bail at the Pinellas County Jail.

Police identify body of man found near beach

CLEARWATER -- The body found near Clearwater Beach on Thursday evening has been identified as Dario Trasorras, 58. Police say Trasorras, who lived at 501 Mandalay Ave., B-16, went to the north end of the beach Thursday night, laid some personal items on the sand and then walked 100 feet into the water where he shot himself with a .38-caliber revolver. Clearwater police found a gun near the body and a suicide note in Trasorras' apartment, said spokesman Wayne Shelor.

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