Police say a man and a woman are accused of killing their landlord in Florida and living with the body for two weeks while trying to decide how to dispose of it.
Clearwater police said in a news release that 42-year-old Lawrence Edward Cannon faces a first-degree murder charge after 68-year-old Mary Ring was fatally shot after the Super Bowl on Feb. 5.
Detectives on scene of death investigation at 1132 Engman St. Search warrant recently obtained to allow us to enter the house.
— @myclearwaterPD (@myclearwaterPD) February 20, 2017
For several hours, detectives, and forensic investigators collected evidence at the home on Monday.
Police said Ring, Cannon and 44-year-old Jennifer Elam lived at the home.
Neighbors said they hadn't seen Ring for several weeks, and neighbor Kenneth Howard said he noticed two suspicious people hanging out at the home.
“A lot of suspicion been going on,” Howard said. "They’ve been using her car and I haven't seen Ms. Mary in over a week, and Ms. Mary never comes outside anymore."
Howard said all day Sunday he watched the man and woman moving items in and out of the home. He also said he noticed that Ms. Mary’s car was gone. Howard said his neighbor had people over often, so he didn’t know what to think. But, recently he said things that were happening at the home didn’t make sense to him.
“I saw the cat outside, yesterday and I got suspicious. I said, 'Ms. Mary don't like her cats outside,’ they are always inside,” Hoard said.
Clearwater police along with forensic teams from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office were investigating the incident.
During questioning, Cannon told detectives that he shot Ring in the early morning hours after the Super Bowl.
Cannon and Elam told detectives they spent the last two weeks trying to figure out how to dispose of the Ring's body, which had been kept in the house since she was killed. The two were tenants of the victim.
Both were arrested and taken to the Pinellas County Jail where they will be booked
Cannon is being charged with first-degree murder and Elam with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
Two suspects on way to jail in connection with slaying of woman on Engman Street. Victim is 69, had been dead for two weeks.
— @myclearwaterPD (@myclearwaterPD) February 21, 2017
For two weeks, suspects were trying to figure out a plan to dispose of Mary Ring's body. One charged with murder, other as accessory after.
— @myclearwaterPD (@myclearwaterPD) February 21, 2017
