Troy McPeak homicide

TPD is opening a cold case on the death of Troy McPeak. This was recently reported in the news.


I first read about this sometime last year as I was poking around for news stories about Seminole Heights and found this old article. Here is the then St. Pete Times article (1996).

Here is the Tribune's version:

Tampa police probe 3 killings in 3 days
The Tampa Tribune
January 9, 1996

TAMPA -- Police investigating a dead body in a neighborhood park followed a blood trail 12 blocks to the suspected killer Monday.

The body was the third homicide victim discovered in as many days in central Tampa -- the city's first three slayings of 1996.

Officers Gerard Doherty and Ray Fernandez were examining the body found by a passer-by about 11 a.m. under a pavilion in Giddens Park, at Giddens Avenue and 12th Street in Seminole Heights, when they noticed splattered blood, said Sgt. George McNamara.

The trail led the officers down 12th Street to the door of a home at 1406 E. Emma St. After the owner gave detectives permission to enter at noon, they found Emilio D. Jenkins, 18, sleeping in a rear bedroom with a cut hand, McNamara said.

Jenkins, of 1706 E. Chelsea St., was arrested and held without bond in the Hillsborough County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder.

The dead man wasn't identified.



What was sad to me was that I could find no further information about Mr. McPeak in the news stories back in 1996. Who he was and who he left behind. Just another crime statistics. Only now do we get that information.


Here is the TPD press release on the cold case.
Tampa, FL April 5, 2007 -


Details:
WHAT: Tampa Police Department and family of victim make public appeal for help
WHEN: March 30, 2006 11:00a.m.
WHERE: Tampa Police Department Headquarters, 411 North Franklin Street, Downtown Tampa
WHO: Major George McNamara-Criminal Investigations Division, Richard McPeak-victim’s brother

DETAILS:
The Tampa Police Department has assigned the Troy McPeak homicide investigation to the newly formed Cold Case Team. Troy was beaten to death on January 7, 1996 in Giddens Park off Hillsborough Avenue. Tampa Police arrested Emillio Demon Jenkins who was later convicted of the crime. The original investigation revealed the possibility of others being involved in this offense, but detectives have not been able to obtain evidence supporting charges against anyone else.

Troy’s family has raised the $5,000 reward in hopes that it will bring forward new witnesses in the case. The money will be awarded to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest of a suspect.

The cold case team was created in 2006. Detectives have already solved three cold cases giving closure to the family members of victims.

Laura McElroy
TPD Spokesperson

Here is his killer who is at Marion Correctional Institute: