Gulfport double homicide captured on 911 tape

LARGO -- The fatal shootings of an estranged wife and her friend were captured on a tape of a call made to 911, according to a search warrant in the murder case against ex-Jabil Circuit executive Patrick "Rick" Evans made public at the Pinellas County Criminal Justice Center today.

The victims were found nude and shot dead in the master bedroom. Minutes before they were killed, both called out the name of the man who held them at gunpoint: "Rick."

The warrant was used by Pinellas deputies to search Evans' St. Pete Beach home soon after the bodies of Elizabeth Evans, 44, and Jerry B. Taylor, 43, were found in her Gulfport condo on Dec. 20.

After Patrick Evans was arrested on two counts of first-degree murder, the tape of a 911 call made from the condo the night of the slayings was declared evidence and sealed from public view.

The defense attorney tried to keep the search warrant out of public view, too, arguing today that it would create a "media firestorm" that would endanger his client's right to a fair trial. Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Nancy Moate Ley disagreed and ordered the warrant made public this afternoon.

The warrant offers a transcription of the 911 call and details some of the evidence detectives obtained against Patrick Evans.

Elizabeth Evans had filed for divorce, but the warrant said that Patrick Evans "did not acknowledge (her) desire for a divorce." Court and police records detail that Patrick Evans had been accused of abusing both his second wife and his third, Elizabeth Evans.

Taylor and Elizabeth Evans were co-workers at Tech Data and, according to the warrant, recently started dating.

The call to 911 was made on Dec. 20 about 7 p.m. from Elizabeth Evans' home at 6080 Gulfport Blvd., according to the warrant. Whoever made the call hung up, the warrant said, but when a 911 operator called back, an unknown person answered the phone and left it off the hook.

Detectives said they could "clearly" hear three people arguing in the background.

"Rick, put the gun down," a man, presumably Taylor, said, according to the warrant.

A woman, presumably Elizabeth Evans, also used the name "Rick," according to the warrant.

"This is ridiculous," the woman was heard saying. "I am putting on a robe."

Detectives said a voice later identified as Patrick Evans' was heard saying "Get on the bed" and "Get on the bed, Jerry."

"Put the gun down," the other man, presumably Taylor, was heard saying, "and I will get on the bed."

Then a single gunshot can be heard.

"Have you lost your ... mind?" screamed the female.

Then another gunshot is heard on the tape.

Both victims suffered fatal gunshots to the upper torso, the warrant said. Both were shot in the neck, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Two spent .40-caliber shell casings and a black holster were found in the master bedroom, the warrant said.

No firearm was found at the crime scene or at Patrick Evans' home at 333 Hermosita Drive in St. Pete Beach, the warrant said. But deputies learned that he owned a .40-caliber Glock pistol because he temporarily handed it over to St. Pete Beach police after a 2007 DUI arrest.

His second wife said her ex-husband carried the Glock with him at home and while driving. Deputies also found .40-caliber ammunition at Patrick Evans' home.

The warrant also showed how quickly detectives zeroed in on Patrick Evans. Less than an hour after the killings, they found the suspect's white Ford F-150 pickup still "warm to the touch."

Evans, 41, is being held without bail at the Pinellas County jail. He attended today's hearing dressed in jail clothing and said nothing. A prosecutor said today that a grand jury is expected to meet next week and indicated that the Evans case will be brought before the panel. Evans has pleaded not guilty.

Alison Steele, an attorney representing the St. Petersburg Times' parent company, Times Publishing Co., opposed the defense's motion to seal the warrant. But defense attorney Frank McDermott still wants to keep the 911 tape itself from being made public. That battle will be fought later.

Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writer

Download a pdf of the warrant.

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Comments

[MiamiMike]

If that was my sister, mother, dad or brother getting murdered on that tape I'm not too sure how thrilled I would be for the world to hear it. I think it's a personal thing and their last moments on earth should be respected and not be made public. Journalistic selfishness.

[windowsugar]

This is very sad. While I agree with mike, the fact is that this information could be readily accessed by anyone with the desire. Also, anyone can attend a court hearing,generally. It IS sad. It is deeply personal.
When someone points a gun at you or even moves in that general direction screaming is the last thing to do. I don't think anything would have changed this but sometimes people can be reasoned with calmly. I've seen it and I've done it myself.
I don't think she took him seriously and obviously he was not in his right mind.
It sounds like Taylor was trying to defuse the situation. How shocking for her to witness.
I'm so sorry for the losses to all of the families.
Any chance of these folks' future is gone and now their children and loved ones carry the terrible burden.

[windowsugar]

So please take care of yourselves.

[matt goldman]

Agreed, we don't really need to hear the 911 tape; the details in the warrant are sufficient. Condolences to the families of these victims.