Murder suspect charged

Saturday, January 7, 2006

Joshua Rosa is charged with first-degree murder.

A suspect has been arrested in the murder of 13-year-old Stephen Tomlinson in December.

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee said Joshua Rosa, 19, has been charged with Tomlinson's murder on Dec. 8 at Logan Gate Park in the Carrollwood area of Tampa.

Rosa, of 12412 Mondragon Dr. in Tampa, was arrested at work without incident Friday evening at the Sports Authority store on Fowler Avenue, where he worked as a sales clerk. He has been charged with first-degree murder in Tomlinson's death.

Rosa had been a person of interest since Tomlinson's murder. Deputies questioned him on the night of the murder, but released him.

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Gee said that late Friday afternoon the sheriff's office received a report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement indicating that Tomlinson's DNA was found on nail clippers belonging to Rosa and blood on gloves belonging to Rosa was Tomlinson's blood.

Gee also said that Rosa's statements to detectives were inconsistent.

"The only consistent thing about his statements was their inconsistency," Gee said.

Stephen Tomlinson was 13 when he was killed.

Rosa and Tomlinson were acquaintances and lived near each other. Gee said there is evidence that Tomlinson struggled with his attacker before he died.

Gee said the sheriff's office does not have a motive for the murder, but Tomlinson's clothing was in disarray when he was found.

The sheriff's office has kept Rosa under surveillance since the murder. He is being held without bond.