A well-being check at a Florida residence on April 19 led to the arrest of 82-year-old Vincent Di Fraia for the fatal beating of his 84-year-old wife.
Groveland Police arrived at the Way Point Drive home around 9 p.m. after receiving a call from a concerned individual who noted the couple’s health issues and a previous mention of a suicide pact involving pills.
Upon entering the house, officers found Di Fraia sitting on a couch in blood-stained clothing. He had visible cuts on his arms, which investigators determined were self-inflicted wounds from an attempt to cut his wrists with a knife.
He was transported to a local hospital for treatment before being questioned.
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In a bedroom, police discovered the victim lying on a bed with a hammer nearby.
She had sustained a large impact wound to the side of her head. Evidence at the scene included blood on the walls and ceiling, as well as dried blood in the bathroom sink and on the floor leading to it. Investigators also found bloody items discarded in a kitchen trash can and near the sink area.
The medical examiner concluded that the woman had been dead for more than 24 hours before discovery.
Neighbors characterized the couple as quiet and expressed shock over the incident. Following a search of the home and the collection of evidence, Di Fraia was charged with first-degree murder. He is currently being held in the Lake County Jail without bond.
While the Tampa Free Press normally publishes booking photos, De Fraia’s photo was taken at the hospital as he was being treated, and we decided not to publish it.
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