Suspect accused in veteran’s death returns to Lee County, makes first court appearance

A man accused of killing a U.S. military veteran and beloved grandfather appeared in a Lee County courtroom Monday morning after being extradited from Georgia.

Michael Joseph Wasko, 46, faces one count of second-degree murder in the death of Ron Lagattuta, 80. His body was found on March 2 in the bedroom closet of his south Fort Myers home in the Jamaica Bay community.

Wasko was arrested the next day in Port Wentworth, Georgia.

A detective with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said during Wasko’s court appearance on Monday that Wasko was found driving the victim’s 2007 Chevrolet Cavalier and had even removed some stickers from it, including a memorial to Lagattuta’s wife.

Wasko confessed to killing the veteran in the arrest affidavit.

The judge ordered him held without bond. His next court date is April 5.

Wasko also has a warrant out of Indiana for violation of probation and signed an extradition waiver. The judge said Indiana will not pick up Wasko until his Lee County case is over.