AUBURNDALE, Fla. — The Polk County Sheriff's Office says the man wanted for killing his girlfriend of more than 20 years has been found.
Deputies say Larry Smith, 57, was found and arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday. He faces first-degree murder charges for killing Tashia Smith, 40, at her home, investigators say.
Tashia was discovered by deputies around 9 a.m. Monday after her sister reported her missing just five hours earlier, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. She was last seen Sunday, July 25, at a Wing-Stop restaurant in Lakeland where she worked.
She was scheduled to work Sunday evening but never showed up, the sheriff's office says.
Detectives say Tashia had been shot multiple times when deputies discovered her body.
Smith has a prior criminal history that consists of 21 felony charges and 18 misdemeanors, according to the sheriff's office.
10 Tampa Bay Cares: If you are a survivor of domestic violence, you are not alone. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). There is also a chat option.
What other people are reading right now:
- Clearwater's own Bobby Finke wins Olympic gold in 800-meter freestyle
- Lightning's national anthem singer moves to ICU days after COVID-19 hospitalization, husband says
- Live where you want, travel when you want, work from anywhere: The life of a 'digital nomad'
- Disney World to require guests to wear masks indoors, on rides regardless of vaccination status
- Rescued seahorse gives birth to hundreds of babies at Clearwater Marine Aquarium
►Breaking news and weather alerts: Get the free 10 Tampa Bay app
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter
