Fatal Fire In Largo Determined To Be Murder-Suicide

LARGO, FL -- Largo Police have determined that a fatal fire at the Avalon RV Resort on Feb. 8 was a murder-suicide.

During their investigation, detectives discovered that Diane Marie Morrocco, 52, stabbed Carol Ann Benton, 50, to death in the early-morning hours of Feb. 8 and then attempted to kill herself with the knife. When she wasn't successful, she set fire to the bedroom and died inside the bathtub from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Detectives believe she barricaded the north entry door and set the deadbolt lock on the south door to prevent neighbors from gaining entry to help when the fire was seen at 5:15 a.m.

These conclusions were supported by District 6 Medical Examiner's Office autopsies and the State Fire Marshal. No suicide note was found.

Morrocco had a prior history of Baker Acts for mental heath issues, according to her family.

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