Homeless man charged with murder after woman found dead outside East Naples Home Depot

Reporter: Taylor Smith Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Collier County Sheriff’s Office conducted a death investigation in the parking lot of a Home Depot in East Naples Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. Credit: Shared with WINK News.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kenneth R. Tannassee, 28, who is homeless, for killing a woman in the parking lot of a Home Depot in East Naples Friday. Tannassee faces charges for second-degree murder. Witnesses say they believe the woman was stabbed to death, but CCSO has still yet to confirm the cause of death.

According to CCSO, the victim was discovered close to 2:15 p.m. in the parking lot of the Home Depot in the 1600 block of Airport-Pulling Road. A friend of the victim previously told us about her before law enforcement confirmed. CCSO says the victim’s name is protected under Marsy’s Law.

Per the CCSO Facebook post, while the incident remains an active investigation, detectives believe this was an isolated incident, and there is no immediate danger to the public.

Still, people who frequent the improvement store in East Naples say this killing changes their perspective of the area.

“I feel very uncomfortable. I feel very paranoid,” Stacia Irizarry said. “This parking lot where people have to park that live over here …  I mean, homeless people are here, so I think maybe someone has some aggression towards homeless people.”

Irizarry says she’s lived in the area for years.

“I’ve sat here in this parking lot plenty of times now,” Irizarry said. “It’s like I don’t think I can park here now. I feel like, what if I would be next? It’s uncomfortable knowing what happened, and it’s unfortunate.”

Now, she doesn’t know if she feels safe.

“I haven’t seen anything in Naples like this,” Irizarry said.

Dozens of deputies were near the Saint Matthew’s House during the investigation outside Home Depot, and people who live there say they’ve never had any problems staying in this area.

“I don’t know who it was, but if it’s who I think it is, most of the ladies there who stay at Saint Mathew’s House are sweet people,” John Santclair said.

St. Matthew’s House said it’s putting together a crisis team to comfort staff and residents.

And Irizarry hopes everyone puts their guard up.

“I think people need to be more aware of their surroundings and not be so trusting with other people,” Irizarry said.

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