Crime & Safety

Arrest Made in Bradenton Homicide

The victim's body was found by Manatee County deputies Tuesday night in a wooded area.

BRADENTON, FL β€” The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has announced an arrest in a homicide uncovered Tuesday evening.

According to the agency, Michael Morico, 49, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Kevin House, 52.

Deputies say both House and Morico are homeless and lived in the wooded area where the body was found. The discovery came as deputies were searching the wooded area in the 4700 block of 15th Street East for a man wanted on several outstanding warrants.

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Deputies say House and Morico got into an argument around 10 p.m. Tuesday. Morico, an email from the agency said, thought House may have burned some of his property. A verbal dispute led to a physical altercation.

Morico is accused of attacking House with a concrete block and knife. An autopsy determined House died from blunt force trauma and was also stabbed, the email said.

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Booking photo courtesy of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office

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