Sarasota Deputy Arrested For Attempted Murder

Sarasota County Sheriff Deputy Arrested For Attempted Murder Of Elderly Woman

Monday morning a Sarasota Sheriff’s Office employee was arrested on multiple charges including attempted murder.

Frankie Eugene Bybee, an 18-year veteran with the department, was arrested after allegations of harassment by a 79-year-old woman led to an investigation.

Sheriff Thomas Knight told abc action news that Bybee had gained the trust of the elderly woman by taking care of her dog, visiting her in the hospital, introducing her to his kids and other means.

It started on Dec. 20, 2016 when he was reportedly supposed to watch the victim’s dog while she was in the hospital and accepted a check for any emergencies regarding the dog while in his care.

Photo: abc action news

However, he kept the money and sold the dog on Craigslist.

Then on Jan. 9, 2017 four checks were made out to Bybee, which totaled $65,000 in the victim’s name. She had no knowledge of those checks and later the investigation revealed Bybee’s fingerprints on them.

Just three days later the victim reported that Bybee entered her house wearing latex gloves, mounted her and forced prescription medication into her mouth.

Investigators determine her home was filled with carton monoxide after the inside garage door was left open with the car running in the garage.

The investigation revealed that Bybee attempted to kill the elderly woman while making it look like a suicide. He was unsuccessful in his attempt though and was reported for his actions.

Bybee is facing charges of forgery, grand theft, burglary of an occupied dwelling, battery on a person 65+ years of age and attempted murder.

During his tenure he has been investigated five times and has been suspended multiple times.

This is a developing story, stay with News Talk Florida for new updates in this case involving the investigation of Frankie Bybee.