Sheriff Arrests Man In Connection With Palm River Triple Homicide

TAMPA, FL -- Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies have made an arrest in connection with an arson and triple homicide in the Palm River area.

On Saturday, Dec. 1, detectives charged 28-year-old Xavier Whitehead of 11th Street North, Tampa, with arson, tampering with physical evidence and armed burglary of a dwelling. He was taken to Tampa General Hospital after his arrest for "unrelated medical issues." He is being held at the Hillsborough County Jail without bond.

Detectives believe Whitehead is one of the two men seen on surveillance videos at a home on 16th Avenue South near Margaret Street in the Palm River area on Nov. 15.

The bodies of three people were discovered inside the home when Hillsborough County Fire Rescue was called to the house for a fire.

The bodies were identified as Derek Archie, 31, Xavier Greene, 28, and Haley Stone, 20. All three suffered upper body trauma, according to the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office obtained some surveillance video of the home that shows two men walking in and out of the home shortly before the fire broke out. One of the men was carrying what appears to be a gas container. They drove away in a silver, four-door sedan. (See related story).

Images via Hillsborough Sheriff

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