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Lee authorities find car that may be connected to Tia Poklemba murder
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has released this photo of a car believed to be owned by the person of interest in the homicide of Tia Poklemba.
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Related Documents
- Lee County Sheriff's Office Press Release: Photos of Person Of Interest In San Carlos Park Homicide
Detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit are releasing still photographs of a person of interest in reference to the homicide of Tia Marie Poklemba.
- Lee County Sheriff's Office Press Release: Photos of Person Of Interest In San Carlos Park Homicide
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery: Family, friends share memories of Tia Poklemba
These personal photos portray Tia Poklemba as fun-loving. The 25-year-old Bonita Springs woman was killed on a dead-end San Carlos Park road early Friday morning.
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Detectives examined the tires of the gold Cadillac as it sat in a San Carlos Park driveway not far from where Tia Poklemba died. They pointed at the front grill. A neighbor noticed damage to the passenger-side turn signal. Then, deputies delicately towed it away from duplex at 17366 Dowling Drive.
Authorities released a statement claiming they found the car of the “person of interest.” They didn’t release the name of the owner of the car or the person of interest. They haven’t made any arrests in the murder of the 25-year-old. But they’re certainly making progress in the unsolved case.
An unmarked sheriff’s car parked near the duplex early Friday afternoon, said Cindy Layow, who lives on Albany Street, across from the duplex. Her son called her outside when he saw what was happening.
“It was like they were waiting,” she said of the detectives. “Then the Cadillac pulled up and a girl was driving.”
The car was a gold Cadillac that investigators say Poklemba and a “person of interest,” a Hispanic man in his twenties, entered as they left Tiki Bar in San Carlos Park last week.
Poklemba, 25, was found hours later, dying from severe injuries in the middle of a dead-end stretch off Park Road. Two newspaper carriers who found her said she appeared to have been dragged or run over.
John Sheehan, a spokesman for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, would not confirm or deny where the car was found. He said someone tipped investigators about the location.
Investigators still have not located the person of interest, he said. The man is described as weighing 170 to 180 pounds, with a height between 5-foot 7-inches and 5-foot 9-inches, and with medium black hair. He speaks with a slight accent, investigators say.
Two Hispanic families live on each side of the duplex on Dowling Drive. Asked on Saturday about the car, a young boy whose family lives in one of the apartments and who gave his name as Ruben Chavez said his family knew nothing about the car and didn’t know who it belonged to. He said he lived in the apartment with his family.
A woman who came to pick up several children from the other apartment in the duplex said the family knew little about what happened.
“They just saw the cops come pick up the car, but they have no idea,” said the woman, who refused to give her name.
The duplex is owned by Pedro and Maria Regalado, according to county records.
Neighbors on Saturday gave similar accounts of what happened on Friday.
Alex Hernandez, who lives next to Layow, watched as he was having his hair cut on his front stoop. He said several young children got out of the car with the woman.
The woman seemed angry at one point, he said, but she was never arrested. Instead, detectives began carefully searching the car.
“They checked the tires,” Hernandez said. “They just kept checking everything.”
He said they pointed to the car’s grill several times.
Layow said the passenger side turn signal appeared to be broken.
The detectives eventually left, neighbors agreed, when a sheriff’s patrol car arrived at the home. A tow truck arrived about an hour later, and the deputies helped load the car onto the truck.
Layow said deputies placed a plastic sheet on the bed of the truck, and an officer put on rubber gloves before driving the car onto the bed. They strapped the car onto the truck, she said, and then covered the entire car with plastic sheeting.
Altogether, officers were at the duplex several hours, witenesses agreed.
Neighbors said the gold Cadillac was often parked at the duplex. Jason Rine, who lives next door, said he thought it was relatively new, bought within the last month. Layow said she thought it had been around longer than that.
Rine, who ocasionally goes to the Tiki Bar, said he had heard that authorities were looking for a truck, not a car. Just as a friend told him about the search for a Cadillac, Rine said he watched it drive to the duplex, where detectives waited.
Jay Layow, Cindy’s husband, said he was also unaware.
“I didn’t even know they were looking for a car,” he said.
Comments
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Great news, and I hope it's the right monster who did this to Tia.
When will security cameras be improved, too?
#1 Posted by beetlejuice on August 15, 2008 at 10:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really hope this pans out to be a huge lead; for the family, friends and community. NONE of us want this monster out there!
#2 Posted by FreshFace on August 15, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah! I hope this lead closes this case very soon and justice for Tia. God Bless You Tia
#3 Posted by yorkie on August 15, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice car. Wonder how owner gleaned the wherewithall to afford it? "He worked hard, saved his money", as some dingbats have the custom of saying when denying the treachery of those around them?
A nation can survive its fools and aggressors. It cannot survive the enemy within.
(w/apologies to Cicero)
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasota Key, Florida
15 August, 2008
#4 Posted by paul_vincent_zecchino on August 15, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It would stand to reason that if they found the car of the "person of interest", then they know who this person is, i.e., name, address, d/l number, etc. Although they cant just throw the name out there as the killer until they have what they need to prove up the charge, how about saying, "Hey, we are interested in talking to so and so, anyone that knows of his whereabouts, call us".
#5 Posted by SandnSurf on August 15, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was about to say the same SandnSurf. Unless there is something else they are not saying
#6 Posted by ricky369 on August 15, 2008 at 10:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So Dr. Z...what make, year, and model do you think this car is?
Hard to tell with the vague description, photo, and the 2003-2007 crap, huh?
Even cicero can't tell.
Can U?
#7 Posted by beetlejuice on August 16, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TIA... DON'T WORRY HONEY... THEY WILL FIND THIS MONSTER!! YOUR DEATH WILL NOT BE IN VEIN.. THE PERSON THAT DID THIS 2 U IS PURE EVIL AND THERE IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL 4 THEM!! U R AT PEACE NOW, BUT WE NEED 2 FIND JUSTICE 4 YOUR FAMILY WHO'S GRIEVING SO MUCH!!! REST IN THE ARMS OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER TIA AND CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER YOUR FAMILY!!
#8 Posted by sara231 on August 16, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It would stand to reason that if they found the car of the "person of interest", then they know who this person is, i.e., name, address, d/l number, etc." They have this information now all they have to do is locate him. LCSO is doing a great job.
#9 Posted by ravenhawk on August 16, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If this is the monster, the hunters are closing in on him. He would be much safer behind bars, than roaming about, once his identity is disclosed.
#10 Posted by rayroman on August 16, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"He would be much safer behind bars, than roaming about, once his identity is disclosed." This is most likely why they have not released this information to the press. They want to get him in one piece. MUCH safer for him!
#11 Posted by ravenhawk on August 16, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If this crime had happened to a daughter of mine, a family member or anyone close to me I would demand justice...
...
If the car was found, then the cops must have a suspect already...
...which means its only a matter of time...but hurry up before your criminal leaves the country.
Extraditions take time and the criminal justice system in other countries like Mexico does not work like it does here in the U.S....
We want justice, even if your criminal is hispanic, 24 -30, and with no previous criminal record...He needs to pay for his crime...He needs to be caught. Period.
Not Your Everyday Mexican.
#12 Posted by NYEM on August 16, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What we have in Mexico are drug cartels like the Gulf, Juarez, Sinaloa, and the Tijuana cartels. When they commit a crime...they leave a signature mark, a letter,etc...
What we need to do is identify what groups of people here in the U.S. operate with whom...
You have drug users (you know who I am talking about- you, your best friend, your teacher, your mother, your everyday all-american teenager) and the drug pushers, people that work for the cartels. They have no feelings, they kill just because...
#13 Posted by NYEM on August 16, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ravenhawk, are you suggesting my comment alludes that I feel the LCSO is not doing a great job?
#14 Posted by SandnSurf on August 16, 2008 at 8:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In reply to post #5, not at all SandnSurf, in fact if you will re-read post # 10 you would find that I was simply agreeing with you and reinforcing what you said. Reading is a skill.
#15 Posted by ravenhawk on August 17, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's to praying that Tia will get the justice she deserves soon. This monster needs to be off the streets. RIP Tia, you were taken from us too soon. Poklemba family, youa re in my prayers.
#16 Posted by Jp25 on August 18, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seriously what kind of sick individual would do this to someone that had her whole life ahead of her? Think about it! It makes me sick to read about it. I think and pray everyday that they find this person, and they suffer as much as she did, if not more! My heart goes to her family and all of her friends. LCSO will find this person and she will then rest peacefully. God Bless!
#17 Posted by rogueradar on August 20, 2008 at 2:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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