Paramedic Found Guilty Of Murdering His Girlfriend

RIVERVIEW, FL — A 48-year-old paramedic was found guilty Thursday of murder for shooting his girlfriend inside their Riverview home in September 2016, the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office said.

Thomas Elmore Jr., attempted to cover up the crime by telling authorities his girlfriend, Tamara Naish, 48, committed suicide, investigators said. Elmore reported her death on Sept. 22, 2016, to law enforcement officials. Based on the condition of her body, she had been dead for 36 hours, detectives said.

Despite working as a paramedic and understanding the importance of promptly contacting law enforcement, Elmore initially claimed he had found his girlfriend dead on their bathroom floor, and then waited 24 hours before contacting the sheriff’s office because he was distraught, the State Attorney's office said.

When deputies arrived at the home, they saw that Naish had been shot not once, but twice. She also had a bullet wound on her hand where she had held her hand up to protect her face, the State Attorney's office said. The gun had been placed in Naish’s left hand, even though she was right-handed. The medical examiner determined it would have been impossible for her to have shot herself, based on the available evidence.

“This delivers justice for Tamara Naish and her family, As a nurse, she dedicated her career to helping others," Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said. "Her life was taken so heartlessly, and now the man who did it—and lied about it—will pay for it,” Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said.

Jurors deliberated for eight hours over the course of two days before returning the guilty verdict. Elmore will be sentenced at a future date.