Man arrested after woman's body found in trunk

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Hillsborough County deputies said they arrested a 44-year-old Tampa man Wednesday after finding the body of his roommate in his trunk.

Col. Donna Lusczynski said deputies were sent to a home on Thrasher Drive after the homeowner, who rents out rooms to Kydel Weldon, 44, and Tina Ryan, 45, found blood throughout the house.

When deputies arrived, Weldon and Ryan were missing. They eventually tracked Weldon down at a day labor business on Columbus Drive.

"As a deputy was talking to Weldon, she observed what appeared to be blood on his hands. She also observed what appeared to be blood on his clothes and pants," Lusczynski said.

Investigators said they also found a bloody knife.

When they opened the trunk, the discovered Ryan's body.

"The victim did suffer from blunt trauma to her head as well as multiple stab wounds to her upper body," Lusczynski said, adding it's unclear if Weldon was trying to get away. "He was parked there, sitting and talking, so I don't know that at that moment he was actively trying to get away, but it does appear as if he was trying to hide the crime."

Detectives charged Kydel Weldon with second degree murder.

Neighbors said they couldn't believe this happened in their community.

"It's unfortunate that we live in this time and age, that these kind of things happen and, of course, we are all very concerned because we are a tight-knit community," said Carol McLemore, President of the East Lake Park Civic Association.

Deputies said Weldon's previous charges include child molestation, battery and marijuana possession.