News Releases are to be used for informational purposes only. 
Information provided should not be relied upon for any type of legal action.

Release Number: 09-127  (09-131)

For Immediate Release

Public Information Office

May 5, 2009

Debbie Carter: dcarter@hcso.tampa.fl.us

(813) 247-8060

 

 

Who:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE – MAY 5, 2009

 

Richard McTear was located this morning at approximately 9:30 a.m. by officers of the Tampa Police Department (TPD). TPD received information that the suspect was possibly in the Robles Park area.  Officers approached a residence at 229 Stratford Avenue when the suspect ran out a door and fled on foot with officers in pursuit.  McTear was discovered hiding in the backyard of a residence at 3803 Arlington Avenue in Tampa.

 

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detectives took custody of the suspect and after interviews Richard Anthony McTear, Jr. has been charged with the following:

1st Degree Murder, Felony Battery, Burglary with Battery, Aggravated Child Abuse and Kidnapping.

 

On May 5, 2009, the suspect, Richard McTear was awaiting within the apartment of the victim, Jasmine Bedwell.  Upon the victim closing the door, the suspect approached her and began to beat her with his fists as well as choke her, leaving abrasions on her neck.  The victim also sustained several other abrasions upon her body as well as bite marks on her right bicep and shoulder.  The suspect made threats to the victim stating “I’m gonna kill the both of ya’ll” referring to her and her 4 month old infant Emanuel Murray.  The suspect then grabbed the car carrier of which the victim, Emanuel Murray was laid in, and threw it across the apartment twice, causing the baby to fall out.  Jasmine Bedwell then fled the apartment in an attempt to call for help.  The suspect fled the apartment with the infant without permission of the child’s mother.  As the suspect fled the scene with the infant upon Interstate 275 southbound. The suspect threw the infant from the vehicle window as the traveled southbound.  According to the Medical Examiners Office, the exact cause of death of the infant was blunt impact with skull fractures and brain lacerations with the manner of death being homicide.

 

 

 

Victims:   Jasmine Bedwell, DOB 8-13-91 (mother)

           12414 N. 15 Street

           Tampa

 

           Emanuel Wesley Murray, DOB 1-25-09 (DECEASED)

          

Suspect:  Richard McTear Jr.  DOB 10-8-87

          1601 River Cove Street East

          Tampa

 
What:

Domestic Violence, kidnapping, homicide
When:

April 5, 2009 at  3:15 a.m.
Where:

Marbella Apartments

12414 North 15 Street, Tampa
Why/How:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office this morning at 3:15 a.m. responded to a Domestic Violence call at the Marbella Apartments located at 12414 North 15 Street.

 

The caller stated that she had a fight with her ex-boyfriend and the fight resulted in the suspect battering her and her 4 month old son. The victim stated that sometime during the altercation the suspect had thrown her 4 month old son down on the concrete. He then picked up the child and fled with the child in a blue 4 door Impala.

 

A passerby discovered a small child on Interstate 275, South Bound at Fowler avenue.  Preliminary indications are that the child was thrown from the vehicle.

 

The child has been identified as the 4 month old,(Emanuel Murray) that was taken from the Marbella Apartments.   The child was pronounced deceased at 4:30 a.m.

 

Tampa Police Department has located the vehicle at 1601 River Cove in the City of Tampa.  The suspect has not been located.

 

Anyone with any information reference the suspect is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477.

  Richard Anthony McTear, Jr.