Person sought in Pasco murder found dead

Holiday, Florida -- A man sought for questioning in the murder of a New Port Richey man was found dead today in a motel room of an apparent drug overdose, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said.

Robert E. Maniatis, 20, of Merita Drive was found by friends at The Tahitian Resort on U.S. Highway 19.

Police in Tarpon Springs called him a "person of interest" in the murder Monday of Michael Scott Peele, 25. His body was found on a sidewalk near the Riverside Apartment Complex.

Maniatis was arrested by Pasco deputies Aug.5th on an aggravated assault charge. It was alleged he fired a MAC 11 semi-automatic weapon at several people near Primrose Drive and Solar Drive in Holiday Aug. 3rd. The victims stated he also threatened several times to shoot up their residence, deputies said.

The sheriff's office said deputies are investigating several shootings that occurred in and around Maniatis' home in Holiday. Detectives had listed him as a main suspect in those shootings.

Maniatis' cause of death will be determined by autopsy, but detectives said it appeared he died of a drug overdose.