A Florida sheriff's deputy waited for his ex-girlfriend to arrive home with her two children after a day at the beach before allegedly kidnapping her and shooting her to death, authorities say.
Background
Deputy Troy Savetz, a 14-year veteran with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office who previously served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his rented vehicle next to his ex-girlfriend on Monday evening, according to Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
The woman and her two children, ages 12 and 9, arrived at their home in the 16800 block of Platinum Drive in Spring Hill at approximately 5:30 p.m., authorities said. Savetz was allegedly standing on the lawn waiting for them when they returned from a beach outing.
Sheriff Gualtieri described the relationship between Savetz and the victim as tumultuous, saying the deputy had "a permanent solution to a temporary problem."
The Investigation
According to Sheriff Nocco, an argument erupted between Savetz and his ex-girlfriend upon their arrival. Savetz allegedly snatched the woman's phone during the dispute because he was upset about wanting his television set back.
The mother instructed her children to go inside and call 911, which they did. Authorities say Savetz then forced the woman into his car and drove away with her.
Nocco praised the "extremely brave" daughter who called emergency services and provided critical information that allowed investigators to identify Savetz and locate the vehicle. He said their mother is "looking down from heaven" and would be proud of them for following her instructions during the crisis.
Authorities later located the vehicle, where both Savetz and the woman were found deceased. The investigation is ongoing, though no charges will be filed against Savetz due to his death.
Key Takeaways
- Deputy Troy Savetz was a 14-year veteran of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office who previously worked for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
- The shooting allegedly occurred over a dispute involving a television set that belonged to Savetz
- Two children, ages 12 and 9, witnessed their mother's abduction and were able to call 911
- Both victims were found deceased in Savetz's vehicle after authorities tracked down the car
What's Next
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation into the incident. An autopsy is expected to confirm the causes of death for both victims. Detectives continue to piece together the timeline of events, though no criminal charges will be pursued against Savetz due to his death.
Sheriff Nocco expressed devastation that the children would begin their school year processing the loss of their mother rather than focusing on education and normal childhood activities.