Manhunt underway for David Eugene Smith, suspect in Florida triple homicide
Florida police are searching for a man believed to be the murderer behind a shocking triple homicide in Lakeland, Florida.
David Eugene Smith, 27, reportedly has a history of mental illness, is paranoid, delusional, armed and “exceptionally dangerous” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd Tuesday morning. He noted his a former military man suffering from PTSD.
“We fear for the community until we find this man,” Judd said during a televised news conference. “We’ve got to locate this fellow because he is absolutely dangerous.” They also stated that Smith refers to himself as “Prince David.”
Deputies found three people dead in a home just south of Lakeland on Monday night when the 14-year-old daughter of one of the victims returned home after being away over the weekend at an ROTC event.
The teen’s mother was among the three found dead.
Smith has been detained under Florida’s Baker Act for mental-health evaluation. In 2009, he was arrested by Lakeland police on charges of cocaine possession, marijuana possession and carrying a concealed weapon.
Deputies do not know where Smith is, though there is a possibility he is headed to Texas, where he has family or Tennessee to visit high school friends.
He is driving a 2002 beige Mercury Sable with Florida tag 708MDB.
David Eugene Smith
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