INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A person of interest is being interviewed in connection to the first homicide of the year in Indian River County. Sheriff Deryl Loar Monday morning called the homicide an “isolated incident.”
The victim, identified as 71-year-old Walter Richmond Hobson II, of 675 23rd Place SW, in south Indian River County, was found dead inside his home shortly after noon Sunday by a family member who notified authorities.
Sheriff Loar said the person of interest, who has yet to be identified publicly, is believed to have knowledge or has a direct relation to homicide.
A cause of death has not yet been released pending an autopsy scheduled for Tuesday. Sheriff Loar said investigators believe that Hobson died sometime Saturday evening.
The person of interest is someone who had a relationship with Hobson, Sheriff Loar said, explaining the person either knew Hobson through work or a member of Hobson’s extended family.
Investigators were led to the person of interest based on statements from Hobson’s family members and other witnesses.
Sheriff Loar said investigators are “very comfortable” they have the person responsible for the homicide in custody and he is “cautiously optimistic” an arrest of the person of interest could happen today.
The person of interest has an “extensive criminal pattern,” he added.
He said investigators suspect drugs may have been involved based on witness interviews and habits of certain individuals. Items were removed from the home, the sheriff noted, but did not say what had been taken.
“Unfortunately, when relationships don’t work out and dependency is involved, bad things happen,” Sheriff Loar said, emphasizing that the homicide was not a random act.
