BSO: Man In Custody In Connection To Double Murder of Deerfield Beach Elderly Couple
DEERFIELD BEACH (CBSMiami) – Broward Sheriff Scott Israel announced Thursday at a Deerfield Beach community meeting that detectives had a man in custody in connection to the double murder of an elderly couple earlier this week in Deerfield Beach.
The announcement was met with applause from the crowd.
BSO said the suspected killer was taken into custody in Lake Worth without incident around 3:30 p.m. Thursday. He faces two counts of first degree murder.
The couple were "targeted" by someone who knew them, according to Broward Sheriff Scott Israel.
"I can tell you it was not a random act of violence, this heinous and reprehensible crime," said Sheriff Israel."The Russo's were targeted."
The bodies of 88-year-old Phil Russo and his 78-year-old wife Barbara were found by their daughter in their Deerfield Beach Condo in the Deer Creek Country Club on Monday.
BSO has not said how they were killed.
Longtime friend Rita Masi, who said she spent countless days with the Russo's at the beach, said she still can't understand why anyone would hurt the Russo's.
"They were lovely, lovely people and this should never happen to anybody else," Masi told CBS 4's Carey. Codd. "And I just hope that their family may have some kind of solace now that the person has been apprehended."
Deerfield Beach Commissioner Bill Ganz is devastated that the Russo's lives ended in such violence and he is hoping the news of an arrest will calm any fears in the community.
"We're really glad to make sure that the residents can now breathe a sigh of relief and know that our streets are safe and we've got this animal off the street," Ganz said.
Friends of the Russo's say they loved being involved in their community and spending time together. They described the moments after the couple's bodies were discovered.
"I heard all this commotion and I heard this crying and screaming," said friend Suzanne Pasqual.
Friends and neighbors at the Deer Creek Country Club Condos were stunned over the couple's death and very uneasy because investigators suspected foul play.
"These things upset me," said friend Evelyn Appelbaum, adding, "especially when you hear it could be a homicide. I mean who, why? I can't understand that kind of anger."
