Body Found on Basketball Courts

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a person found Tuesday morning on the basketball courts at the University Area Community Center.

Deputies say they received a call just before 9 a.m. from an employee at the 14013 N. 22nd St. center. The employee said there appeared to be a dead female on the courts, an email from the sheriff’s office to media stated.

When deputies arrived, they found the body of Samuel ”India” Clarke, 25. Clarke, whose last known address was on Patterson Street, was identified by homicide detectives who noted he was dressed in women’s clothing. While the exact cause of death remains pending an autopsy, the Medical Examiner’s Office determine that the “victim exhibited obvious signs of homicidal violence to the upper body,” the email said.

Clarke was arrested for prostitution in 2013, Hillsborough jail records indicate. ”India” was one of the aliases recorded in jail records at the time.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200. Those wishing to be eligible for a possible cash reward in the case are asked to submit tips to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477). Tips may also be reported anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or by texting “CSTB plus your tip” to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637).

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