Family of Belleair murder victim 'excited' after arrest

BELLEAIR -- The family of murder victim Deana Cataneo was excited to learn of her husband's arrest on Tuesday on a first-degree murder charge in Las Vegas.

Lori Ferguson, the victim's cousin, said her family has been searching for news that Ryan Cataneo had been arrested as he trekked west.

"We’ve been waiting for six weeks now," said Ferguson, whose mother is Cataneo's aunt. "We were really excited. Now we know that the process can be started for him to be judged."

She said the family either wants Ryan Cataneo to get life in prison or the death penalty.

The body of 39-year-old Deana Cataneo was found in the bed of her Belleair home on Nov. 28 after her father could not reach her for their Thanksgiving dinner. The medical examiner determined she died of homicidal violence. A search warrant describes how paramedics found marks on her neck and believed her to be strangled.

Ferguson said law enforcement asked the family not to discuss the couple's relationship in detail. But she said Ryan and Deana knew each other since high school, though they were married as recently as last year.

She said she had no choice about whether to believe that Ryan killed Deana, as Pinellas County Sheriff's detectives said. "There was no other alternative," she said. "What else would you think?"

Ferguson described Deana Cataneo as driven, beautiful and strong. "She lit up the room when she walked in," Ferguson said. "Everyone really loved her."

The search warrant offers other details into the homicide. It says Deana Cataneo was last seen walking near the couple's rental home at 7 Baybrook Place on Nov. 24, four days before her body was found. Neighbors saw her calling for one of her dogs.

Ferguson said the family is now waiting to hear what happened with the dogs, two white Pomeranians. She didn't know if the dogs were found with Ryan.

The warrant also reveals that paramedics observed binding marks on her neck. Deputies collected rope-like items from the home, including a robe tie and a cloth belt.

An assistant medical examiner also told deputies that her neck had significant trauma. He estimated Deana Cataneo had been dead at least 24 hours by the time her body was found.

Stephanie Garry, Times staff writer