Homeless Man Admits To Killing Girlfriend, Wrapping Her Body In Tarps

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — The Pasco County Sheriff's Office have arrested a man in connection to a decomposed body found in a wooded area in New Port Richey April 10.

Detectives have charged David Allen Thomas, 59, a homeless man who lived in the woods near 7432 Little Road in New Port Richey, with second-degree homicide.

The sheriff's office received a call reporting the body four wrapped in tarps west of 7101 State Road 54.

Detectives identified the body as a homeless woman who had lived in the woods with Thomas. The two had been in a romantic relationship for about five years.

On Tuesday, detectives located Thomas at 5316 U.S. 19. During an interview, he admitted to getting into a fight with the woman on March 24 and killing her by applying pressure on her neck for several minutes, blocking her airway.

He told detectives he planned to bury the woman in the woods, but was unable to dig a hole. Instead, he wrapped her in two tarps and then placed another tarp over her to create a "casket" that he secured to the ground with tent stakes.

Thomas said he was making arrangements to flee the country when detectives caught up with him.