Man Bound, Stabbed Victim To Death In North Port: Police

NORTH PORT, FL — A Port Charlotte man was arrested and charged in the death of his victim, who was found Sept. 26 bound and stabbed multiple times, according to a North Port police news release.

After months of investigation, Michael Douglas, 53, of Port Charlotte was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, police said. He was booked into Sarasota County Jail.

Officers were called to investigate a homicide and found the “gruesome scene” in the 3000 block of South Haberland Boulevard, the agency said.

During their investigation, they learned that Douglas had been pursuing a romantic relationship with the victim.

He was named a person of interest, and video, forensic and DNA evidence was used to determine that he was the killer, according to police.

"It is due to hard work and dedication from our agency, which will help our victim's family find some sort of justice for this senseless and heinous crime," North Port police Chief Todd Garrison said.

The agency also worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which processed and expedited the DNA evidence in the case.