By Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 21, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — Last week prosecutors decided not to put Hector Luis Ortiz Jr. on trial for the attempted murder of Daniel Traum. They closed the case after deciding that Ortiz, a soldier on leave from Iraq, was not sane at the time of the unprovoked attack against his friend.
That was on Jan. 12. Six days later, police say, Daniel Traum was found dead in his apartment — the same place where officers found Ortiz standing over him nearly two years ago.
St. Petersburg police believe Traum's death on Tuesday was likely accidental, that he may have asphyxiated after a night of drinking with a friend.
But detectives also have to rule out the possibility that the stab wounds he suffered in the attack played any role in his death.
"The main thing we're concerned about is, did the ...