Riverview woman charged with houseguest's murder

TAMPA -- A Riverview woman has been arrested on homicide charges in the shooting death a house guest. Deputies said she tried to make the death look like a three-shot suicide.

Tamra Suzanne Leasure, 43, of 12920 Shadow Run Blvd., Riverview, was arrested today at her home and charged with second-degree murder, Hillsborough sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said.

Deputies said Leasure shot and killed Arthur R. Tilley Jr. on March 5. Investigators said she shot him three times with her .38-caliber pistol then placed the gun in his hand to stage a suicide.

Tilley, 57, lived in Dedham, Maine, and had been staying at Leasure's home for several days, Callaway said.

Investigators determined that the two had been arguing in the kitchen when Leasure pulled the revolver and shot Tilley three times, in the head, neck and torso, according to deputies.

Leasure told detectives she called 911 to report a suicide and placed the revolver in Tilley's right hand to make it appear the wounds were self-inflicted, Callaway said. Leasure also told detectives that "the third shot was not necessary," according to Callaway.

Leasure will be booked at the Orient Road jail.

-Kevin Graham, Times staff writer 

Comments

[Bobcat]

Know who you let saty in your home they can turn on you in a second like a rabid dog she should get the death penalty for this crime no other sentence will suffice

[Talon]

ok...i think i got this figured out...the lady shoots this man ok, in the head, and in the neck, and in the torso...and then the man tells the detectives that the third shot wasnt necessary ..because....what that the shot in the head and torso was enough to kill him...ok thats it..i need a drink. the man is shot in the head, neck and chest and hes talking to the police..but then again hes dead.

[mrknowitall]

2nd degree murder ? why not 1st degree. It was premeditated, why else she packing. If was other way around def would be 1st. Fry the _itch

[Oh No it's MONGO]

It's so easy to lose count when your having fun!

[knowitall]

Ok here is where she will claim domestic violence and he made her do it. Bet thats the defence. Fry her

[Big C]

One for good measure and she is charged with 2nd degree? I say up the charges to 1st degree with all the associated charge attached, as well.

[Paul]

It's a wonder that she didn't throw the poor dude
off of the skyway bridge also.

This is a nut case who thought that a typical suicide includes shooting yourself three times.

It will be an interesting case for the public defender to work on.

She was probably abused as a child, abused by him, drugged up, or just plain insane.

Put this nut away. No other way.

[Sandie]

SHE WATCHES TO MUCH TV, to think she could get away with this.

[Doc]

Reminds me of the case of the guy found in the lake with 250 foot of chain rapped around him.
cops said he stole more chain than he could carry!

[Doc]

He must have worked his way up to his head I guess! missing sucks.............

[Matt]

"the third shot was not necessary" Was any of them "really" necessary?

[Mrs. Anderson]

Seriously....did she really think she would get away with this crime? What a dumb---! Anybody knows that most people who commit suicide start with the head first. Who in their right mind would shoot themself in the torso, and in the mix of all the pain and blood think "ok, now I'll shoot myself in the neck", and then still have the strength or sanity left to say "you know what, both of those shots didn't work...let me just shoot myself in the head". Tamra Leasure should be labeled one of the "stupid criminals" and be given the death sentence. Hope she loves prison. And wait until God gets a hold of her. He doesn't like ugly.

[Big Joe]

MY question is - why did it take the dumb *ss cops 2 months to arrest her??? The average parking meter attented would have known that she killed his *ss.