Florida Man Robert Kessler Charged After Woman's Body Parts Found In Bay
TAMPA (CBSMiami/AP) - An arrest has been made after a woman's dismembered body was found dumped in a bay.
Tampa Police took Robert Kessler, 69, into custody earlier this week on drug charges while investigating the death of Stephanie Crone-Overholts. He's now facing charges of second-degree murder and abusing a dead body.
A fisherman spotted body parts belonging to the 47-year-old woman from Erie, Pennsylvania earlier this month.
Additional body parts including a leg with a tattoo were later discovered in McKay Bay, police said. They released photos of her tattoo — three hearts including the name of her son. The photos went viral online and made their way back to her family in Pennsylvania where she had been reported missing.
The relationship between Kessler and Crone-Overholts was unclear. Interim Chief Ruben Delgado said the two had been living together after meeting at a fast-food restaurant.
Her blood inside his van and home, Delgado said.
Police said don't know when Crone-Overholts was killed or when her body was dumped into the water. A motive has not been released.
Kessler has denied any involvement in her death, telling a local TV station they met at a restaurant and he offered her a place to stay, but later asked her to leave.
Her son, Sean Overholts, released a statement earlier this month saying the family was devastated.
"This has been a living nightmare. It is unimaginable what she went through. My mother will be deeply missed."
(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
