U.S. National - Reuters
Sex Offender Charged in Murder of Florida Girl
Sun Apr 17, 8:54 PM ET U.S. National - Reuters
MIAMI (Reuters) - A registered sex offender was charged on Sunday with the murder of a 13-year-old Florida girl who had been missing for nearly a week, police said.
AP Photo
Slideshow: Sex Offender Charged in Murder of Florida Girl
Onstott Charged in Death of Sarah Lunde
(AP Video)
Sarah Lunde's body was found in a pond about one-half mile from her house on Saturday after a massive search by police and volunteers.
Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee said a registered sex offender, David Onstott, who had known the girl's mother, confessed to killing her and was charged with first-degree murder.
Gee said Onstott had gone to the victim's house in Ruskin, south of Tampa, last Sunday to see her mother, had argued with the girl and had put her in a chokehold until she died.
Onstott had been in police custody for unrelated matters since Lunde disappeared and had been described as a person of interest in the case.
"The defendant subsequently confessed to the crime," Gee said. "The defendant David Onstott is now presently charged with first-degree murder. Other charges are being reviewed at this time."
It was the second death of a young girl in the Tampa area in less than two months. Jessica Lunsford's body was found last month in Citrus County, north of Tampa, three weeks after the 9-year-old girl disappeared from her home.
John Couey, a convicted sex offender who was living near Jessica's home, was arrested and charged with her murder.
:MAD
Sex Offender Charged in Murder of Florida Girl
Sun Apr 17, 8:54 PM ET U.S. National - Reuters
MIAMI (Reuters) - A registered sex offender was charged on Sunday with the murder of a 13-year-old Florida girl who had been missing for nearly a week, police said.
AP Photo
Slideshow: Sex Offender Charged in Murder of Florida Girl
Onstott Charged in Death of Sarah Lunde
(AP Video)
Sarah Lunde's body was found in a pond about one-half mile from her house on Saturday after a massive search by police and volunteers.
Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee said a registered sex offender, David Onstott, who had known the girl's mother, confessed to killing her and was charged with first-degree murder.
Gee said Onstott had gone to the victim's house in Ruskin, south of Tampa, last Sunday to see her mother, had argued with the girl and had put her in a chokehold until she died.
Onstott had been in police custody for unrelated matters since Lunde disappeared and had been described as a person of interest in the case.
"The defendant subsequently confessed to the crime," Gee said. "The defendant David Onstott is now presently charged with first-degree murder. Other charges are being reviewed at this time."
It was the second death of a young girl in the Tampa area in less than two months. Jessica Lunsford's body was found last month in Citrus County, north of Tampa, three weeks after the 9-year-old girl disappeared from her home.
John Couey, a convicted sex offender who was living near Jessica's home, was arrested and charged with her murder.
:MAD
