Suspect in East Naples homicide released from jail 17 days before incident

The man accused in a homicide outside Home Depot in East Naples was found incompetent to proceed in a burglary case and had been released from jail about two weeks before the slaying.  

Kenneth R. Tannassee, 29, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder on Aug. 21 after a homeless woman was found dead inside her vehicle in the store parking lot on Airport-Pulling Road, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.  

A witness told deputies that Tannassee walked up to him with blood on him and a weapon consistent with injuries to the victim, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.   

Tannassee, who is also homeless and spent time at St. Matthew’s House nearby, then left the Home Depot area and confessed to another witness that he had killed a woman, according to the sheriff’s office. 

Tannassee's arrest in 2018

Tannassee was released from jail on Aug. 4 after he pleaded no contest to charges in a burglary case. He was adjudicated guilty of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and grand theft by Collier Circuit Judge Ramiro Mañalich.  

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

More:CCSO: Man arrested in connection to homicide in East Naples

Proceedings stalled for several months in the burglary case after multiple psychiatric/psychological evaluations concluded Tannassee was incompetent to proceed.

Tannassee was arrested Oct. 23, 2018, after a Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a home in the 13800 block of Collier Boulevard in reference to a burglary in progress.  

Tools were taken out of the victim’s van and were placed into the trunk of Tannassee’s vehicle, according to Tannassee’s arrest report.  

While arresting Tannassee, deputies found an open lock knife blade in his front right pocket and he told deputies someone was setting him up, according to the sheriff’s office.  

After the arrest and during an interview with detectives, Tannassee said the tools must have been placed in the trunk of his vehicle by the victim of the burglary, according to the sheriff’s office.  

Tannassee pleaded not guilty to the charges from the burglary incident on Nov. 19, 2018.  

Competency evaluation and proceedings

Then on July 8, 2019, the judge signed an order appointing an expert to conduct a competency evaluation of Tannassee before the case could proceed, according to court records.  

For defendants to be competent in court proceedings the expert must deem that they can appreciate the charges or allegations against them, appreciate the range and nature of possible penalties, understand the legal process, disclose to their attorney facts pertinent to the proceedings, manifest appropriate courtroom behavior and testify relevantly.  

On Sept. 5, 2019, a second expert was appointed to evaluate Tannassee’s competency by performing a psychiatric/psychological evaluation and a third expert was appointed for an evaluation on Oct. 8, 2019.

Tannassee was ordered incompetent to proceed in the case by the judge on Dec. 20, 2019.  

Two of the experts who evaluated the defendant determined Tannassee was incompetent to proceed but did not meet the criteria for commitment to the state hospital. His defense team as well as prosecutors agreed with the assessment, according to the judge’s order.  

Tannassee was ordered housed at the Collier County Jail and to receive competency restoration treatment provided by the David Lawrence Center. He was to follow recommended treatment and take prescribed medications, His competency was to be reevaluated every six months or by court order, per the judge’s order.  

Re-evaluation for competency 

Tannassee was ordered to be re-evaluated for competency about four months later on April 22. The judge ordered Tannassee was competent to proceed on July 25, according to court records.  

The expert appointed for re-evaluation in April found Tannassee competent to proceed and wrote in a report that Tannassee spoke clearly, engaged easily, was cooperative and did not present any unusual behaviors, according to the judge’s order.  

The expert wrote that Tannassee earned a post competency training test score of 98.8%, dramatically improved since competency training and was compliant with medication, according to the judge’s order.  

In the order judging Tannassee competent to proceed, a plea hearing was scheduled in the case.  

Tannassee pleaded no contest to the charges in the burglary case and was sentenced to 18 months in state prison during the hearing on July 31, however he was given 648 days of credit for time served from his time spent in the Collier County Jail.  

Because he had more credit for time served than his prison sentence, Tannassee was freed from jail without being sent to state prison.  

The victim’s identity in the homicide case has not been released by law enforcement as it is protected under the Florida statute known as Marsy’s Law.   

A search warrant was 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.