Crime & Safety
Holiday Man Arrested in Connection to Father's Death
Baron Von Duke Vercruysse was charged with first degree murder in connection to the death of his father, who was found in a burned house.
A 23-year-old Holiday man stands accused of killing his father.
Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies opened an investigation after authorities responded to a house fire at 5617 Mosaic Drive, Holiday, on New Year's Eve and discovered a man’s body inside the home, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
A medical examiner’s preliminary autopsy led authorities to identify the body as that of Rene' Dominique Vercruysse, 52.
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“Detectives developed probable cause based on their investigation and the
medical examiner's findings,” Sheriff’s Office spokesman Doug Tobin stated in a press release. "The medical examiner's preliminary autopsy confirmed the victim died due to homicidal violence. “
Authorities began searching for Baron Von Duke Vercruysse, the deceased’s son, Tuesday and found him in the Holiday Lake Estates subdivision, where they arrested him.
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Detectives believe a dispute arose between Baron Von Duke and his father “and sometime before the fire on New Year's Eve Baron killed his father,” Tobin said.
The manner of death is still under investigation.
Baron Von Duke Vercruysse was being booked in to the Land O’ Lakes Jail Tuesday night on a charge of first degree murder.
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