Wimauma man faces murder charge in death of roommate
By Times Staff Writer
Published September 17, 2004
WIMAUMA - An argument between two intoxicated roommates ended Wednesday with one man dead and the other facing a murder charge, according to Hillsborough Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Rod Reder.
Detectives say the victim, whose identity sheriff's officials were trying to confirm Thursday, was killed between noon and 7:30 p.m. They didn't find the man's body until a neighbor called 911 several hours later.
Reder said the victim and his roommate, 53-year-old Taide Elisale Tinoco, were drinking and started arguing Wednesday inside the mobile home they shared at 707 Sixth St. Officials did not know the subject of the argument.
Reder said Tinoco hit his roommate "multiple times" on the head with an object, though deputies were still trying to determine what type of instrument was used.
Tinoco went into his room and refused to get help for the man, who was still alive. Later, he told a neighbor there was "a dead man" in his house, Reder said.
Tinoco admitted to detectives that he fatally beat his roommate, Reder said. Deputies arrested Tinoco at 5 a.m. Thursday. He faces a second-degree murder charge and is being held without bail at the county jail, records show.
