By Tamas Mondovics
Dover Murder Suspect Returned To Hillsborough County After Arrest In Kentucky
Michael Anthony Herald, 48, a suspect in the double murder of an elderly Dover couple, was arrested in Hazard, Kentucky by state police and returned to Hillsborough County to face charges earlier this month.
Herald, a former Kentucky State inmate, was caught and charged with two counts of first-degree murder as well as armed burglary of a dwelling as he was driving out of a county park in the 2015 Ford Explorer that belonged to John Engelhart, 76, and Nancy Engelhart, 73.
Authorities said that the couple were found dead on Thursday, April 14, a day prior to Herald’s arrest by Hillsborough County deputies during a welfare check at their home on McIntosh Rd. in Dover.
The call to check upon the couple’s home was promoted by a neighbor stating that the Engleharts had not been seen for awhile and that their mail was stacked up on top of the mail box. The couple’s vehicle was also missing from the carport.
Upon arrival, deputies met with neighbors and soon discovered the two deceased inside a shed located on the property, their death declared a homicide.
Detectives obtained a search warrant and based on the investigation a warrant was issued for the arrest of Herald, who was reportedly hired by the couple as their handyman.
On Thursday, May 5, Herald arrived back in Hillsborough County from Kentucky. He is in the Hillsborough County Jail.
Plant City Detectives Seeking Assistance In Search For Elderly Shooting Victim
Plant City Police are seeking the public’s support in their search for three male suspects they say were involved in a shooting of a 72-year-old man as he exited his vehicle after pulling into his driveway in the 500 block of Allen Street in Plant City.
According to Plant County Public Information Officer Al Van Dyne, the attempted armed robbery, which occurred on Thursday, May 5 at approximately 11:50 p.m. was not a random act of violence.
“Three male subjects wearing ski masks exited what was believed to be a black vehicle and shouted at the victim, ‘Give it up’ as they approached him,” Van Dyne said.
Authorities said that as the elderly man ran toward his house to escape, the suspects fired multiple times striking the victim who then was hospitalized. The victim has since left the hospital and is doing well.
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the unknown suspects in this case. Anyone with any information regarding the identity of the suspect and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or send a mobile tip using the P3 Tips Mobile application, which is a free download for iPhones and Droids. Crime Stoppers must be contacted first in order to be eligible for a cash reward.
Detectives Seek Information On Publix Armed Robbery
Plant City detectives are also reaching out to Valrico and surrounding area residents to identify two armed robbery subjects who were wearing stocking masks and gloves while they forced open the front doors to the Publix located at Thonotosassa Road in Plant City.
Investigators said that once inside, one of the armed suspect’s held the employees at bay while the other armed suspect forced another employee into the money vault.
The suspects obtained cash then fled the scene in what was described by witnesses as a dark colored van, possibly a late model Honda Odyssey.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, May 4 at approximately 10:14 p.m.
Plant city Police PIO Al Van Dyne said that the suspects are believed to be black males. One suspect was described as being approximately 6’0″, 250 lbs. and was wearing what appeared to be a black leopard hoodie with a red logo on the left sleeve, dark colored pants and a ball cap with a red bill. The second suspect was described as being 6’2″, 170 lbs. and was wearing a dark colored hoodie and light colored pants.
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the unknown suspects in this case. Anyone with any information regarding the identity of the suspect and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or send a mobile tip using the P3 Tips Mobile application, which is a free download for iPhones and Droids. Crime Stoppers must be contacted first in order to be eligible for a cash reward.
For more information regarding the specific case, contact the Plant City Police Department Public Information Office at 757-9200.
