Elderly Deerfield Beach Couple Found Dead, Now Considered Double Murder
DEERFIELD BEACH (CBSMiami) – Crime Scene technicians worked into the night Tuesday investigating a double murder after the bodies of an elderly couple were found in their Deerfield Beach Condo Monday.
The bodies of 88-year-old Phil Russo and his 78-year-old wife Barbara were wheeled out of their apartment a full day after they were found dead inside their condo.
Detectives have been combing over every square inch of the Russo's apartment, looking for clues.
Their bodies were discovered Monday night by their daughter.
"I heard all this commotion and I heard this crying and screaming," said friend Suzanne Pasqual.
Friends and neighbors here at the Deer Creek Country Club Condos are stunned that the couple is dead—and very uneasy because investigators suspect 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."
Detectives towed the couple's car away so deputies could investigate further and the mobile crime lab was brought to the scene to processes more evidence. The couple lived at the apartment they were found dead for years.
Friends said they were very active in this senior community.
"(They're) very involved," said Pasqual. "They got us the bocci courts, they got us the poker tables, organized poker games, bingo."
"Phil was a fun guy, he loved to go to the beach, he loved to play poker. He just always had a good word for everybody," Appelbaum continued. "Barb was a bowler, and she liked to play bridge and she was a grandma and a mom. They were wonderful people, wonderful asset to the community."
And in their twilight years, neighbors remember a couple there for each other as Phil was having some health problems late in life.
"He had some ailments and he didn't want to be alone so she used to says he liked to walk at night so she wasn't away from him too long," said neighbor Louis DiGarbo.
Anyone who has information about the deaths is urged to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $3,000 is available for information leading to an arrest.
