Fight between homeless men ends in decapitation

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Ricky Leer

(Credit: CBS Tampa)

(CBS) SARASOTA, Fla. - A homeless Florida man has been arrested for allegedly decapitating another man during a fight at their campsite in a wooded area north of Sarasota early Tuesday.

CBS Tampa reports Ricky Leer, 48, has been charged with second degree murder.

A witness told authorities the fight erupted when the second man accidentally knocked over the grill they were using to cook steaks. According to a police report, Leer then knocked the other man to the ground, grabbed a machete-like knife and began to chop at his head.

The Sarasota Herald Tribune says detectives have not released the identity of the victim and were trying to locate his family.

Leer, the victim and another unidentified man all reportedly lived in the woods. The witness told detectives that Leer and the victim often argued.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office says a 911 call came through early Tuesday morning from a witness who said that Leer killed someone by "chopping off his head."

Police say they found Leer near the campsite drinking rum against a tree. He is being held at the Sarasota County Jail.

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by obbop January 6, 2012 2:37 PM EST: If ever homeless I believe I will minimize contact with other homeless blokes and, instead, allow books to be my friends.

However, due to past life experience, I have done what I can to avoid abject homelessness and have placed a minimalistic aluminum camper shell atop my long-bed full-size Chevy pick-up to allow storage of the bare basics, some protection from the criminal element and shelter from wind, rain, snow, etc.

Sure beats homeless shelters , tents hidden in foliage and cardboard boxes with surrounding plastic to fend off rain etc.

With the USA in economic decline, likely permanent as the USA (outside our ruling elites and their minions) "equalizes" with world-wide soci-economic groups, better get used to the "new" lifestyles you scum squalid commoners.; Reply to this comment


by HRPuffinstuff January 4, 2012 9:28 PM EST: How does one "allegedly" chop off a head? Either he did, or he didn't. Did the other guy "allegedly" die? Why didn't the report also say that they were "allegedly" cooking "alleged" steaks on an "alleged" grill?; Reply to this comment