NORTH PORT — Authorities say Coy Bothwell, 46, has been arrested and charged in the killing of his roommate, Tiffany Schiessl, 32, after allegedly admitting to a violent and prolonged attack inside their shared home.
According to investigators, Bothwell told law enforcement that he began stabbing Schiessl with scissors before escalating the assault, ultimately beating her with golf clubs until they broke. The disturbing details are outlined in a probable cause affidavit released following his arrest.
Police say the case began to unfold late Sunday morning when Bothwell himself contacted authorities around 11:30 a.m., claiming a woman had attempted to burglarize his residence on Brassy Loop in the Fairway Villas community. He initially told officers that the woman, allegedly armed with scissors, had broken into the home sometime the night before.
In his initial statement, Bothwell claimed he delayed reporting the incident because he was in shock. He told dispatchers the woman was unresponsive and not breathing, asking for someone to come and check on her.
When officers arrived at the home, they detained Bothwell in the screened lanai area while conducting a protective sweep of the residence. Inside, they discovered Schiessl lying face down near the front door. According to the affidavit, it was immediately apparent to responding officers that she was deceased.
During a subsequent interview with detectives later that day, Bothwell’s account changed dramatically. He admitted that Schiessl was not an intruder but his roommate of approximately two months. He told investigators she had returned home around noon on Saturday but was unable to unlock the door, despite having keys.
Authorities say Bothwell described having brief contact with Schiessl before launching a sudden and violent attack. He allegedly used a kitchen knife and scissors to stab her multiple times in the head, neck, and chest area near the front entryway of the home.
The affidavit further states that Bothwell then struck Schiessl repeatedly in the head with several golf clubs until they broke. He also admitted to holding her down until she succumbed to her injuries.
The killing occurred at the residence located on Brassy Loop, a quiet street situated between Sumter Boulevard and North Port Boulevard. Despite the brutality of the incident, police emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Bothwell was arrested Sunday, one day after the killing, and is currently being held without bond. He faces a charge of second-degree murder without premeditation.
Neighbors in the Fairway Villas community expressed shock and concern as details of the incident emerged. Joe Rider, who lives across the street, described the home as having a history of unusual activity.
“There were always some sketchy people coming in and out,” Rider said, adding that while he knew Bothwell, he considered him to be a strange individual. “Other than that, the neighborhood is really chill. Other than Coy.”
Rider recalled seeing a heavy law enforcement presence at the home after returning from Easter services with his family.
“We got home from church and I was like, ‘oh jeez,’” he said.
Another neighbor, Zina Gargiulo, said she had no idea a homicide had occurred until speaking with reporters. However, she recounted a frightening incident just days before the killing, when a man banged on her door shouting that “someone has to save this baby.”
“There was no baby,” Gargiulo said, describing how she yelled at the man to leave her property before calling her son in distress. Her son later arrived to comfort her and had recently provided her with pepper spray for protection. Despite the unsettling encounter, he believed it was unrelated to the homicide.
Gargiulo noted that the neighborhood had always seemed quiet during her two years living there, though she was unfamiliar with the residents of the home where the killing occurred.
Tracy Cristello, another resident, shared similar concerns, saying she had long felt uneasy about Bothwell.
“Every time I saw him, I’d get a really bad vibe. Just always odd,” she said.
Cristello said she typically greets neighbors but avoided interactions with Bothwell and others associated with the residence. She also mentioned that her husband had witnessed arguments at the home in the days leading up to the killing.
She described seeing unfamiliar individuals in the area, often wearing dark clothing and carrying backpacks, which added to her unease.
“I carry a gun when I walk my babies at night,” Cristello said, referring to her two dogs, Dixie and Tucker. “I’m not gonna be the next one six feet underground.”
Cristello also witnessed Bothwell’s arrest on Sunday, describing a tense scene as officers approached with weapons drawn.
“He tried to run away before being cuffed and taken away,” she said.
The incident has shaken the otherwise quiet community, with many residents expressing disbelief that such violence could occur in their neighborhood.
North Port Police Public Information Officer Brittany Kammerer addressed the situation in a statement, emphasizing the department’s commitment to justice.
“We live in a safe city built on strong values, and when something like this occurs, it’s met with the full commitment of a dedicated team that works tirelessly to ensure those who harm others are held accountable,” Kammerer said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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