Venice Man, 83, Charged with Second-Degree Murder After Woman Found Shot Dead in His Home

An 83-year-old Venice man, Walter Lee Edgerton III, faces a second-degree murder charge after authorities found a woman shot dead inside his home on September 16. The incident raises local concerns about elder care, illness, and firearm safety within Venice homes.

Mr. Edgerton called 911 around 8:35 p.m. on September 16, informing the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office that the woman was not breathing and CPR would not help. Paramedics arrived to find the woman in a reclining chair, shot on the right side of her head. They pronounced her dead at 8:47 p.m.

Investigators later interviewed Mr. Edgerton. In a recorded statement, he confessed to placing a .22-caliber revolver against the right side of her head and pulling the trigger. He told authorities the woman suffered from chronic health problems and had recently been hospitalized at Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice for complications from a bleeding ulcer.

The sheriff’s office has not yet released the victim's name. Authorities booked Mr. Edgerton into the Sarasota County Jail early on September 17. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.

This tragic event prompts community discussion on the support systems available for families caring for seriously ill loved ones. Resources like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offer support by call or text for individuals and families in crisis. Local organizations also provide assistance for elder care and mental health, which residents can explore for help before situations escalate.