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Florida man leaves prison, then is arrested in connection with 2001 slaying

Florida Man Arrested in Connection with Murder on Day He Was Released from Prison
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
April 9, 2019

A Florida man was arrested Friday in connection with a 2001 murder -- the day he was released from federal prison after serving time for another crime.

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Randy Petersilge, 51, was arrested on a Pasco County warrant for first-degree murder in the Nov. 28, 2001, death of 41-year-old Simon Clark, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Clark was found dead in New Port Richey as a result of blunt force trauma, the newspaper reported.

There were no arrests made at the time, but Petersilge had been a possible suspect, WTSP reported.

Police reopened the case in 2017, and on Jan. 11, 2018, a grand jury indicted Petersilge on a first-degree murder charge, WFLA reported.

In 2015, Petersilge was convicted in federal court for possession of a firearm as a felon, the Times reported. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison.

He was leaving prison Friday after serving that sentence when he was arrested, the newspaper reported.

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Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
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