Sheriff's office: Suspect in homicide outside East Naples Home Depot confessed to witnesses

A witness to Friday’s homicide in East Naples told deputies the suspect came walking up to him with blood on him and a weapon consistent with injuries to the victim, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.  

Kenneth R. Tannassee, 29, was arrested in connection to the homicide, which occurred in the Home Depot parking lot in the 1600 block of Airport-Pulling Road. Tannassee was charged with second-degree murder.  

Tannassee confessed to the witness that he had just killed a woman, according to the sheriff’s office.  

Tannassee then left the Home Depot area and confessed to another witness that he had killed a woman, according to the sheriff’s office.  

The second witness stated that Tannassee is known in the East Naples area and stays at St. Matthew’s House nearby.  

Previous coverage:CCSO: Man arrested in connection to homicide in East Naples

Tannassee was later located at St. Mathews House, taken into custody, and interviewed by detectives. He denied involvement in the homicide, but placed himself at the incident location, according to the sheriff’s office.  

A search warrant was later served at St. Matthews House for items related to the homicide. Several items including suspected blood evidence were recovered from Tannassee’s belongings, according to the sheriff’s office. 

The victim was killed inside her vehicle. She was homeless and living in her car in the parking lot, according to the sheriff’s office.  

Her identity has not been released by law enforcement as it is protected under the Florida statute known as Marsy’s Law.  

The woman was discovered around 2:14 p.m. Friday, according to deputies. Investigators taped off an area and put up a tarp to work under near the edge of the Home Depot lot.