Man Arrested in 2006 Murder Case

A 35-year-old man faces first-degree murder charges in a St. Petersburg murder case that dates back to 2006.

St. Petersburg detectives arrested Peter Neville Friday in connection with the death of Lawrence Ricker, Mike Puetz, department spokesman said.

The homicide was uncovered on March 28, 2006, around 11:30 p.m. when the city’s fire department was called to a house at 4160 14th St. N.

“When they arrived they found the house fully engulfed in flames and after the fire was extinguished the body of the homeowner, Lawrence Ricker, was found buried under debris inside,” Puetz wrote in an email to media. “An autopsy conducted by the Medical Examiner’s office revealed that Ricker had been murdered prior to the fire. It was determined to have been intentionally set.”

Neville was linked to the crime through DNA evidence, Puetz said. It does not appear Neville knew Ricker at the time. Police say the likely motive was robbery.

Neville had not yet been booked into the Pinellas County Jail.