October 27, 2005
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

BODY IN SHED RULED A HOMICIDE 

Investigators continue their search for Larry Roberson, a “person of interest” in Wednesday’s suspicious death near Orange City that has now been officially classified as a homicide. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office classified the death as a homicide late Thursday afternoon after an autopsy concluded that the victim was murdered. No information is being released on the cause of death, and investigators are continuing their efforts to positively identify the victim. 

The Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted the autopsy Thursday afternoon on the body of the adult woman who was found inside a shed behind a home on Cypress Avenue just west of Orange City. Roberson, 47, lives at the residence with his wife, 53-year-old Debra Roberson. Investigators haven’t been able to account for the whereabouts of the couple, their two dogs or Debra Roberson’s blue, 2002 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. 

In 2002, Roberson was convicted of aggravated battery against his wife and is on probation until August 2006. Based on Sheriff’s investigators’ belief that Roberson has fled the area, his probation officer obtained an arrest warrant on Thursday for Roberson. The warrant charges Roberson with a probation violation for absconding from his court-ordered supervision. Meanwhile, investigators would like to talk to Roberson to see if he knows anything about the woman’s death. Anyone with information about his whereabouts or the missing pickup truck is urged to call the Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at (888) 277-TIPS. Callers to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.

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Additional press releases:

Sheriff's Office Investigating Suspicious Death Near Orange City
Body In Shed Confirmed To Be Adult Woman 
Murder Victim's Husband Located In Levy County, Confesses To Killing
Larry Roberson Charged With 1st-Degree Murder