LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A 34-year-old man has been indicted by a grand jury on first-degree murder and burglary charges in connection with the death of a Leesburg woman, according to court documents.
David Mariotti, 34, of Fruitland Park, is accused of strangling Bernadine Montgomery, 84, in her home with a rope while he and Tracie Jo Naffziger, 40, stole her belongings, including her car, in June.
Police charged Mariotti with first-degree murder last month.
Naffziger told detectives that after Mariotti killed Montomgery, they left the woman’s body on the couch for several days, covered in pillows and blankets.
Meanwhile, Naffziger and Mariotti used Montgomery’s credit cards and pawned her valuables.
Detectives were able to identify and eventually track down Naffziger through surveillance video of the stores where she and Mariotti used the victim’s credit cards.
Naffziger told detectives that she and Mariotti eventually moved Montgomery’s body deep in the Ocala National Forest.
When police found Mariotti in Gilchrist County, Florida, he corroborated Naffziger’s story.
Montgomery’s body has not been located, but police said the search effort is ongoing.
Mariotti is scheduled for an arraignment on the charges next week.
Mariotti and Naffziger have been behind bars since last month.
Cox Media Group
