CLEARWATER -- A grand jury on Thursday returned a first-degree murder indictment against a man suspected of killing a woman in her Clearwater Beach apartment. Todd Wadatz, 24, is accused of killing 20-year-old Aimee Farrell on Dec. 11 in her home at 800 Mandalay Apartments. Police said Wadatz knew Farrell through his wife, who had worked with Farrell at a Clearwater Beach hotel. Police said Wadatz called Farrell, a criminal justice student, early that morning and asked to come speak with her about problems he was having with his wife. Farrell called her mother in Dunedin to tell her that Wadatz was coming over, police said. Police said Wadatz arrived at the apartment and, they think, made a sexual advance toward Farrell. She resisted and he stabbed her multiple times, then sexually assaulted her while she was dead or dying, police said. Afterward, Wadatz showered in the apartment and donned some of Farrell's clothes before leaving, police said. He discarded the knife used to kill Farrell near the Belleair Causeway, police said. Farrell's mother called her daughter later that morning and received no answer. She drove to her daughter's apartment and found the body. Investigators developed Wadatz as a suspect. He confessed to the crime and led detectives to the place where he had discarded the clothes and knife, police said. According to a search warrant, police also searched Wadatz' apartment, 6500 Ulmerton Road, and found pants with a blood stain, as well as possible drug paraphernalia. They also searched Wadatz' car and found paper napkins with blood stains on them, along with blood drops on the outside of the driver's side door, records state.

Sketch of robbery suspect released

LARGO -- A witness has helped police develop a composite sketch of a suspect in two robberies last week. Police say the man was one of three robbers who on Dec. 14 held up the Burger King, 980 Missouri Ave., and on Dec. 13. committed a carjacking at ABC Liquors, 1603 Missouri Ave. The man is thought to be in his 20s, about 5-feet-8-inches tall and 150 pounds, with gold teeth. His two accomplices, who wore wigs or masks during the holdups, also are thought to have gold teeth. Anyone with information can call Largo police at 587-6730.

Woman ruled at fault in fatal crash

LARGO -- An elderly woman who died after a traffic crash Wednesday afternoon caused the crash when she ran a red light, police said Thursday. Vivian Theresa Appel, 89, was driving a silver 1990 Chevrolet west on Rosery Road when she drove through a red light at the intersection with Highland Avenue, police said. She collided with a Ryder rental truck driven by Christian Mohrfeld, 57, who was driving north on Highland Avenue. Appel was taken by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead about 45 minutes after the 12:45 p.m. crash. Mohrfeld was taken to Largo Medical Center, where he was treated and released. Police said no charges will be filed.

Stepfather charged with child neglect

LARGO -- Police have arrested a man on charges that he left his 5-year-old stepdaughter alone and locked out of the family's apartment for at least two hours Wednesday. Brian J. Marnholtz, 31, of 601 Rosery Road NE, was charged with child neglect. Police said Marnholtz left his apartment about 12:45 p.m. to go to lunch and run some errands. He knew his stepdaughter was not in the apartment but locked the door and left for an hour, police said. Marnholtz returned about an hour later, then left shortly afterward to go to work. Again, he locked the door and the child was somewhere outside, police said. A neighbor saw the child standing near a tree about 3 p.m. The neighbor called police upon realizing the child had been locked out of her apartment and was alone. Officers called the girl's mother at work. She came home and was shocked to learn her daughter had been left alone, police said. Police officer Jason Morena said Marnholtz didn't think leaving the child outside alone was a big deal. "He knew he was leaving her to fend for herself," Morena said. "He didn't seem overly concerned about the situation. He did not truly show any remorse about the fact that he locked the door and left to go to work without knowing where the child was." Police said the family's apartment complex, Chaparral Apartments, is near a busy road on which there was a fatal accident Wednesday afternoon.

Program teaches safe boating

Beginning power boaters and sailors can learn the ropes at eight-week programs sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Clearwater Flotilla. The Boating Skills and Seamanship program, and the Sailing Fundamentals program will be from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Jan. 7 at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center, 1001 Gulf Blvd. Registration begins at 7 p.m Jan. 7 at the sailing center. The cost, which includes materials, is $35 for the boating skills and seamanship program and $50 for the sailing fundamentals program. For information, call (727) 469-8895.

Back to North Pinellas news

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

Special Links

Mary Jo Melone

Howard Troxler

From the Times
North Pinellas desks