Murder, Serial Bank Robbery Suspect Captured, Deputies Say

A 52-year-old Clearwater man wanted in connection with a spree of crimes in the Tampa Bay area is behind bars after law enforcement officers tracked him down to a Palm Harbor hotel Monday night.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Anthony Maresca was arrested at the King’s Inn, 34106 U.S. 19, and booked into the Pinellas County Jail on a single armed robbery charge out of Pasco. That charge involves a robbery at the Fifth Third Bank, 5425 State Road 54, in New Port Richey.

Maresca, however, is the lone suspect in the 2014 murder of Billy Shuler in Holiday, Pasco sheriff’s office spokesman Eddie Daniels Jr. wrote in an email to media. He is also believed to be connected to a total of eight bank robberies in Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties that occurred between November 2014 and May 2015.

“As the investigation process continues, additional charges will be added,” Daniels noted.

Shuler, 69, was killed on May 21, 2014. Daniels said Shuler, a coin dealer, reportedly left his Citrus County home to meet Maresca in Pasco.

“Shuler never returned home and his truck was located at a business parking lot in Holiday on May 22,” Daniel wrote. “Shuler’s body was located May 23 near B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits in Tarpon Springs.”

Since Pasco County announced Maresca’s arrest, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has charged him in connection with a number of armed bank robberies. They include the following robberies:

Dec. 19, 2014

• Cadence Bank, 36301 U.S. Highway 19 N. in Palm Harbor

Jan. 2, 2015

• Fifth Third Bank, 1703 McMullen Booth Road in Safety Harbor

Feb. 5, 2015

• Patriot Bank, 924 Palm Harbor Blvd. in Palm Harbor

April 3, 2015

• Fifth Third Bank, 10899 Park Blvd. in Seminole

The investigation continues and more charges are pending.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office