Murder Suspect Busted After Returning to the Scene of the Crime

It seems suspected criminals do return to the scene of their crimes.

At least that was the case in St. Petersburg when a man wanted in connection with a Monday morning homicide returned later that evening. That return resulted in the man’s capture after police were called by a witness who spotted his return.

The incident that led to the arrest unfolded around 3 a.m. Monday when Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies received a call about an armed person in the Oak High Mobile Home Park, 5480 42nd St. N. When deputies arrived, they didn’t find an armed person, but they did locate the body of Craig Rush, 37. The man was found dead with upper body trauma behind Lot No. 6. Rush’s address was Lot. No. 2.

During the course of their investigation, deputies identified Lot No. 6’s resident, Barry Sanders, 34, as their primary suspect in the crime. Sanders, however, was nowhere to be found until the quick-thinking witness spotted him when he attempted to return home.

By the time deputies arrived, Sanders had fled yet again, but a K-9 unit was able to track him down a few blocks away.

Pinellas detectives say the crime was not random and they believe the two neighbors had a dispute prior to the homicide.

Sanders was charged with one count of first-degree murder. He was being held at the Pinellas County Jail Tuesday morning.

Photo Credit: Barry Sanders/Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

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