Edwin H. Barthold, an 80-year-old white male, was found dead on July 16, 2016, outside his home in Oldsmar, FL. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office responded to a call around 7:58 p.m. and discovered Barthold's body on the road outside his residence at 40 Pelican Drive East. Barthold had been shot multiple times, and his death was classified as a murder.
The investigation quickly identified 75-year-old Steven Larson, a neighbor of Barthold, as the primary suspect.
Larson, also a white male, was found dead inside his nearby home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Detectives revealed that Larson had shot Barthold six times in what was described as an execution-style killing. The motive behind the shooting was linked to an ongoing feud between the two men, although specific details about the nature of their dispute were not disclosed.
The incident was classified as a murder-suicide, with Larson's actions leading to the tragic deaths of both men. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office conducted a thorough investigation, but no further arrests or suspects were involved. The case highlighted the severe consequences of unresolved conflicts and the devastating impact of violence within a community. The families of both men were notified, and the investigation concluded with the determination that Larson had acted alone in the murder of Edwin H. Barthold before taking his own life.
