Bartow Cold Case: Sheriff's Office Seeks Info on 1992 Homicide
Polk County Sheriff's Office seeks new leads in the 1992 homicide of Elwin "Larry" Costine and the disappearance of Melissa Jo Sermons, his girlfriend at the time.
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The Polk County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help to solve the 1992 homicide of Elwin "Larry" Costine. Investigators seek information about the unsolved case, which has remained open since Costine was found dead in his Bartow residence on May 4, 1992.
Costine was last seen in the early morning hours of May 3, 1992, after dropping a friend off. He had reportedly attended a rodeo the previous night and was last seen with Melissa Jo Sermons, believed to be his girlfriend. Costine sustained multiple gunshot wounds, according to the discovery of his body the following day.
Sermons was not present at Costine's residence when his body was found. Her family reported she did not return home after leaving with Costine for the rodeo. Foul play also is suspected in Sermons’ disappearance.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit continues to investigate both Costine's murder and Sermons' disappearance. Anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, should contact the Sheriff's Office at (863) 298-6379 or [email protected].
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