HomeMy WebLinkAboutCrimes-1990 Police seek last bit
of slaying evidence
By Charlie Jean
Who to call
OF THE&ENTINF}STAFF
Those with Information about
Winter Springs police think this case can call Central Fbr-
they are close to arresting a sus- ida Crimeline at (407) 423-TIPS,
pect in the murder of well-liked or,toll-free, 1 (800)423-TIPS.
05-year-old caretaker Wilburn W. Callers can be anonymous.
Castle, who was stabbed more Crimeline offers rewards of up
than 80 times in his apartment to$1,000 for fruitful tips.
April 18.
"We're close but not quite dose
enough"to making an arrest, said
Police Chief John Govoruhk. "Ev-
ery time we get a little bit more Castle's slacks were pulled out
evidence,the State Attorney's Of- and were empty. His wallet was
flee tells us we don't have quite on the floor.No money was found.
enough. Castle was last seen at 11:30
"But we're close." a.m. outside his apartment north i
Govoruhk said two suspects of State Road 434 a few blocks '
were eliminated before investiga- east of Winter Springs Elementary
tors zeroed in on the current one. School.
Police investigator Chip Brew- Two 17-year-old girls went to
ipgton said there were no signs of check on him after they could not
forced entry or a struggle in the reach him by telephone.
slaying of Castle, who had After getting no answer to their
worked weekends at the High- knocks, they went to the build-
lands subdivision as a caretaker ing's owner, City Commissioner
for 25 years. Cindy Kaehler, who unlocked the
Friends checking on Castle door.They found the body.
Sound his body about 2:30 p.m. in- Koehler said she had noticed
his apartment at 7 N. Edgemon nothing unusual.
Ave. Police believe the murder Brewington said Castle had be-
weapon was a small steak knife friended many teen-agers at the
Sound beside the victim's body in clubhouse and pool areas of the
a hall between the living room subdivision. He sometimes
and a bedroom, watched children at the pool when
Castle had been stabbed repeat- it was crowded. He also main-
/ay,mostly in the side and back. tamed yards for residents and did
The cord on a telephone beside odd jobs.
the body had been ripped in half. Castle loved to tell stories and
Brewington said robbery was a children loved to listen to him,
possibility because the pockets in one friend said.
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Autopsy of Winter Springs
By Elaine Bennett stab wound and that he had been stabbed repeatedly,
ar THE SENTINEL STAFF mostly in the side and back,Investigator Chip Brew-
ington said.
WINTER SPRINGS — A 88- ear-old caretaker
According to Brewington,police think the murder
y weapon is a small butcher knife found beside Cas-
found dead in his Winter Springs apartment was tIe's body in a hall between the living room and a
stabbed more than 80 times, an autopsy revealed bedroom in the apartment at 7 N.Edgemon Ave.
Thursday. Brewington said there was little evidence of a
Police originally believed that Wilburn W. Castle struggle.The only clue was a telephone on the floor
died Wednesday from a blow to the head or from beside the body. The cord had been ripped in half,
bleeding to death from three visible stab wounds, Brewington said.
one on each side of his neck and one on his right Although no motive has been determined,robbery
wrist.But an autopsy is possible. Brewington said the pockets in.Castle's
topsy at Central Florida Regional Hospi- slacks were pulled out and empty,and Castle's wallet
tal in Sanford found that Castle's head injury was a on the floor near his body also was clear of money.
caretaker finds 80 stab wounds
According to witnesses, Castle was last seen out- Kathie; who called 911, said she did not n•
•
side his apartment, north of State Road 434 and a anything unusual at the apartment W :a
few blocks east of Winter Springs Elementary "I can't believe something like this ppe
School,about 11:30 am.Wednesday. she said."I feel like I'm in a daze.It really has v
He was found about 2:30 p.m. by two 17-year-old me."Kaehler said Castle was living in the a•. '.
girls who went to check on Castle after they could when she bought the building in November. •
not reach him by telephone,police said. According to Brewington, Castle befriended •t'
Alter knocking on the door and getting no answer, teen-agers at the clubhouse and pool area of f
the girls went to a private office attached to the Highlands subdivision,where he worked as
apartment and talked to the building owner. The er on weekends. fi�
owner, city Commissioner Cindy Kaehler, unlocked "He loved to tell stories, and the kids loved
She door for the girls. ten to him," said one member of the Highl F
Koehler said Thursday that she was returning to Homeowners' Association, who would not give her
her office when the girls ran outside screaming, name.She said Castle worked at the clubhouse f4
"They've killed him.They've killed him." 24 years. •
•
90 05' .2o
