WINTER PARK, Fla. -- Detectives and crime scene investigators worked through the night Wednesday and continued Thursday morning, combing over the scene where a prominent Winter Park developer was found dead in his ransacked home.

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SLIDESHOW: Images From The Scene
VIDEO: Evidence Removed From Home

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Winter Park police responded to the home of Steve Walsh about 1:00pm Wednesday. When they arrived they found Walsh dead.

Investigators would only label their investigation a "death investigation." However, sources close to the Walsh family told Eyewitness News that the back of the house had been ransacked and that's where Walsh's body was found. The source said the scene "was a real mess." Police did say they do not believe it was a random death.

A neighbor said she may have heard gunshots about 11:00pm Tuesday, but thought the sounds were from fireworks. She said she is now second-guessing herself.

"Everyone's guessing," said neighbor Gail Kinsloe. "Rumors are flying."

There was a heavy police presence Wednesday evening at the crime scene on Genius Avenue (see map). The neighborhood is not a gated community.

Crime scene technicians brought out what was described as a long-barreled gun found inside the home, but officers would not say if it belonged to Walsh. The morning newspaper remained in the driveway and one of the family's cars was parked there, as well. Neighbors said police told them they were not in any danger.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime scene investigators were on the scene Wednesday afternoon, but left around 9:00pm. They were expected to return Thursday.

The sources close to the family said Walsh's wife Paula was out of town shopping, but had been told of her husband's death. Walsh had been scheduled to join her in South Carolina on Wednesday. They have four children.

The family released a statement that said in part, "…This is a tragic day for his family, friends, colleagues and others who knew him."

"He was a mentor. He did a lot of good for the community and a lot for people who needed his help," said Jill Cooper, who described herself as Walsh's friend.

"We're going to miss him," said Park Avenue business owner Ron Schwartz. "This is a sad day in this city."

Controversial Business Developments

Walsh was the Managing Partner of Broad Street Partners, a large development firm with offices in Orlando, Jacksonville, Raleigh, N.C. and Charleston, S.C. Broad Street's projects included the controversial Carlisle, which was a retail/condominium project in Winter Park that was met with fierce resistance and eventually voted down by the city commission. The firm has several other Central Florida projects as well, including the $250 million Tradition Towers in downtown Orlando and the $200 million dollar Oviedo on the Park in Oviedo.

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LIST: More Broad Street Partners Projects

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Walsh's biography on the firm's website reads: "As Managing Partner, Steve, a native of North Carolina, has been involved in real estate development, construction, finance and management for more than 30 years. In addition to his enormous depth of residential development experience, Steve has developed numerous office properties, including a 32-story building in downtown Charlotte. He has also been active in other business and financial endeavors, including the acquisition/ownership of MetroBank, N.A., where he served as Chairman prior to its sale. In addition, he founded StarChannel, Inc., a highly successful cable company, and was Chairman and CEO of Kroy, Inc., a former NYSE-listed company based in Scottsdale, Arizona."

Broad Street Partners had no immediate comment.

Philanthropist And GOP Supporter

Records show Walsh gave heavily to Republican candidates and causes. In 2004, he donated $10,000 to the campaign of Florida Senator Mel Martinez and the Republican Party.

In 2005, Walsh and his wife donated $2.5 million to the new University of Central Florida medical school.

"Paula and I have been considering meaningful ways to contribute in the community, because Orlando has given us so much," Walsh said. "We chose to support the proposed medical school because of the need for more doctors in Central Florida and because Florida currently imports 90 percent of its new doctors from other states. These are exciting times for Orlando, and we are proud to be a part of UCF."

Neighbors said there have been some break-ins recently, but no violent crimes. Some said they don't believe it is a case of a simple break-in.

Police wouldn't say whether they have focused on any suspects in the case.