SARASOTA COUNTY - Sarasota County Sheriff's deputies have identified a man and a woman they found shot to death Sunday morning ina wooded area near their rural home east of Venice.
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Deputies discovered the bodies of Maureen Modlin, 59, and Michael L.Bistranin, 60 in a wooded area near their home in the 3000 block of Kennedy Drive. Deputies have charged Modlin's former boyfriend, David Myers, 66, with two counts of first degree murder.
A neighbor called deputies at 10:38 Sunday morning to report that Myers was trespassing and that he was concerned for Modlin's safety.
The witness told deputies that the two had been in a volatile relationship and he became concerned when he saw Myers driving Bistranin's truck to a wooded area near the home.
The witness called the Sheriff's office. When deputies interviewed Myers, he told them that he had evicted Modlin and Bistranin. After searching the area, deputies found the bodies concealed in the woods.
A preliminary investigation by the medical examiner's office indicates both victims died as a result of gunshot wounds.
Two people were found dead Sunday morning at a home in rural Sarasota County.
Sarasota County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the home in the 3000 block of Kennedy Drive in Venice at 10:38 Sunday morning. A neighbor called to report that someone was trespassing on property there.
Deputies discovered the bodies of a man and a woman in a wooded area on the property. A preliminary examination indicated that both died of gun shot wounds.
David C. Myers, 66, of Venice was charged Sunday night with two counts of first-degree murder.
The neighbor told investigators that Myers had been romantically involved with the woman in the past, and that he saw Myers driving the man’s truck to the wooded area, according to an arrest report.
When investigators questioned Myers, he told them he had evicted the victims from the property, and that to his knowledge they had left several days ago.
Deputies did not release the names of the victims, saying they had yet to notify their families. They also did not say whether any weapons were found at the scene. They declined to say whether the victims were renting the home or owned it, or were visitors.
Neighbors in the rural area dotted with horse farms declined to comment Sunday afternoon. One woman near the scene, who was visibly shaken, indicated that she had seen the trespasser and called 911, though she refused to elaborate.
The owners of the home are listed as Maureen E. Modlin and Marion D. Kelly in the Sarasota County property records.
