By Tamas Mondovics
The active death investigation at 1528 Highland Ridge Circle in Brandon is now a double murder investigation, and deputies have begun a major search for a man with a violent criminal record carrying multiple outstanding warrants.
Charles Andre Martinez, 24, is now a person of interest in the case, but has no permanent address listed is believed to be still in Hillsborough County, deputies said.
According to HCSO spokesperson Larry McKinnon, Martinez has two outstanding warrants unrelated to the current murder investigation for Home Invasion Robbery and False Imprisonment both issued out of Hillsborough County.
HCSO homicide detectives, crime scene investigators, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner have determined that the two deceased women inside the residence, which has major fire damage, died from homicidal violence and said that the fire was started to cover the crime scene, deputies said.
Tentative identification has been made on both deceased women; however their identities are not being released until positive ID has been made. Families of the two women are being updated of the ongoing investigation.
The 2000 Mazda 4dr that detectives were searching that belonged to one of the victims was recovered in the Dover area.
Anyone who may have seen or knows the whereabouts of Charles Martinez is asked to notify the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200 or call Crimestoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.
