Crime & Safety

Roommate Charged in Murder of Woman on Turner Street

The 54-year old woman was stabbed to death by her former roommate early Thursday morning, according to Clearwater Police.

**UPDATE**

A woman’s former roommate broke into her home, stabbed her, then left to get beer at a convenience store before reporting her death, according to Clearwater Police.

Paul Alexander Denk, 58, was arrested and charged with first degree murder of Amy Lynne Arnold in her Turner Street home early Thursday morning.

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Denk and Arnold knew each other, Rob Shaw, Clearwater Police spokesman, said in release. 

They lived together for the last three months since Denk moved to the area from Kansas. Arnold’s sister also used to be married to Denk's brother years ago, Shaw said.

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The living arrangement was only temporary and Arnold kicked Denk out of the house last week, Shaw said.

Denk came back Tuesday night, but Arnold would not let him in the door. He slept in the carport that night.

Denk then came back again late Wednesday night. Again, Arnold refused to let him in. That is when Denk broke into the house and killed her with an unknown cutting instrument, Shaw said.

“About 30 minutes after neighbors heard arguing, Denk was at a nearby convenience store buying beer with blood on his shoes,” Shaw said in a release. “He went back home and eventually called police and said he had found the body.”

First Denk said he had no involvement and that he just found her body, Shaw said. However investigators found inconsistencies in his story, Shaw said.

Denk, who has lived in Florida only a short time, has a lengthy prior criminal history in Kansas, Shaw said.

Denk was arrested and charged with burglary, aggravated assault, DUI and domestic battery.

Denk is in jail awaiting trial.

Stay with Clearwater Patch for updates.

***
A woman was found dead inside a home on Turner Street early Thursday morning, according to Clearwater Police.

Investigators were called to the 1100 block of Turner Street around 1 a.m. after a 54-year old woman was found dead from upper body trauma, Rob Shaw, Clearwater Police spokesman, said in a release.

"Detectives are in the process of interviewing friends and neighbors of the woman to determine what occurred late last night or early this morning," Shaw said.

The woman's name is not yet released because next of kin has not been notified, Shaw said.

Stay with Patch for updates.


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