The Brief
- A 38-year-old man faces a second-degree murder charge after a 76-year-old woman was found dead inside a hotel room, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
- Police say a hotel employee discovered the body hidden under blankets, sheets and towels in a room showing signs of a violent struggle.
- Pinellas County detectives used hotel surveillance video and blood-stained evidence recovered from a dumpster to track down the suspect, identified as Paul Stottler.
SEMINOLE, Fla. – A 38-year-old man faces a second-degree murder charge after deputies say a 76-year-old woman was found dead and wrapped in a blanket in what was a violent and bloody hotel room scene near Seminole Thursday morning.
Pinellas County hotel homicide
The backstory:
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the Holiday Inn Express at 4816 100th Way N. shortly after 11:30 a.m. where a hotel employee reported finding a dead person inside one of the rooms.
When deputies arrived, they found Emma Mullins lying on the floor of the room. Investigators said Mullins’ body had been wrapped in a blanket and covered with sheets, towels and clothing in what appeared to be an attempt to hide her body.…