Brandon Man Charged In Connection With Wife's Shooting Death

BRANDON, FL — A 77-year-old Brandon man has been charged with manslaughter with a firearm in connection with the Sept. 16 shooting death of his wife at their home on Clara Drive.

On Sept. 16, Ralph Wald called 911 reporting that his wife was not breathing. Deputies arrived at the home and found Johnna Flores on the couch in the living room dead from a gunshot wound to her chest.

There was no gun at the scene so deputies obtained a search warrant of the resident and found a .38-caliber revolver in a gun box in the nightstand of Wald's bedroom. The firearm had one spent bullet casing in the cylinder.

Detectives said it is the same firearm used in a murder that occurred at the home on March 24, 2013. At that time, Wald charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a man he found having sex with his wife in the home. He was found not guilty by a jury.

See related story: Detectives Continue To Investigate Death Of Woman In Brandon Home

According to the sheriff's office, the investigation and forensic evidence indicated that Flores was shot by Wald. When detectives tried to interview Wald, he invoked his right to remain silent.

The case was presented to the State Attorney’s Office in December and, on Jan. 17, Wald was charged.