By Erin Sullivan
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
PORT RICHEY — The man who murdered a 94-year-old woman last week has been caught, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.
John Sexton, 47, was arrested last week on burglary charges. Sheriff Bob White held a press conference Tuesday evening to say blood evidence on Sexton's clothing linked him to the death of Ann Parlato.
"This has been the worst homicide our team can remember," said White, noting that the victim had been mutilated.
"She was brutally and horrifically murdered," White said.
A tip from a neighbor led deputies to Sexton's door. The next-door neighbor was woken by his dogs barking at 12:30 a.m. Thursday. He went outside to check it out, fearing some kids were trying to steal his boat, parked in the grass between his home and Parlato's. He saw a truck parked in front of her house. The house lights were on, and the neighbor saw a man in the kitchen window, his hands in the sink.
Parlato was a night owl, and it wasn't unusual for her to invite people she knew inside, so the neighbor figured all was well. Still, he jotted down the license plate of the truck — and gave deputies the information the next day when a friend found Parlato's body.
When deputies arrested Sexton, they took his clothing into evidence. Tests revealed Parlato's blood on his clothing, White said.
The sheriff would not say what might have motivated the attack.
Erin Sullivan can be reached at esullivan@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6229.