Detectives Investigate Leads in Homicide

Just six months ago, Jason Stone was on top of the world. He had reunited with his wife, Suzanne, so his family was back together after a year-long separation.

He chronicled move-in day in a YouTube video, titled "My BEAUTIFUL family is back and better than EVER!!"

"It could possibly be the happiest day of my life because I've got the whole Stone family here," he says in the video. "Grandpa died yesterday and I think he is up in heaven saying, 'God, get that family back together.' "

Stone told friends last Thursday that he was getting ready to release a CD and that life was great.

That night, Stone, 35, was in the 2900 block of 29th Avenue West. He died sometime that evening after a 6 p.m. post to Facebook. His wife discovered his body when she came home at about 11:20 p.m. and ran to the neighbors to call police.

Stone, who changed his name from Jason Siembida sometime in the past five years, was devoted to his family and his young son, whose life he had chronicled from birth in about three dozen YouTube video postings.

He was known as a karaoke DJ and a singer. He also was known for having a wild side and "struggling with demons." He and his wife had a tumultuous relationship, according to friends and family members.

A year ago, he posted on his Facebook page, he gave his life to God, and this, he said would be the final and best chapter of his life. Just a few months ago he travelled with his sister to Wisconsin to meet his father, whom he hadn't seen since he was 4. In a short time, his father, Robert Siembida, said, they had formed a bond.

Stone had even talked about moving from Florida to be closer, Siembida said.

Now Siembida is left grieving for a son he had just started to get to know. He didn't get to meet his grandson in person, although Stone couldn't stop talking about him.

Siembida has seen videos of his son playing in a band, heard the stories of how after Hurricane Katrina, when Jason was just 29, he rented a truck, filled it with donations and drove from Florida to Mississippi for the hurricane victims.

Stone, who was known as Jason Siembida back then, had lost all of his belongings and his apartment the year before in Hurricane Charley. His decision to rent the truck, collect donations and personally deliver them to hurricane victims had been an impulsive one. He had no disaster response experience, but he followed through on his mission.

His father was looking forward to getting to know his son, seeing the kind of father he was and meeting his grandson. Now he has to rely on police and speculation to put the last pieces of his son's life together.

Bradenton Police detectives are fielding phone calls — more than 50 tips have come in since Stone was shot at his front door — and examining forensic evidence in hopes that they will find the evidence they need to arrest someone for his murder.

"Right now, every detective is working on this," said Capt. Warren T. Merriman III. He said they are waiting for the result of some forensic tests and hope that those will give them enough evidence to make an arrest in the case.

In the meantime, he said, detectives are following up on every phone call and tip. As they investigate, they find even more leads to follow. Merriman said it could be a couple weeks or more before police make an arrest in the case.

Detectives have been able to concentrate their efforts on the case because it is Bradenton's first homicide in two years.

The case is baffling because the shooting occurred in a quiet little neighborhood of condos, where homes are all nearby, yet neighbors have said they didn't hear or see anything.

Family members have been searching for clues in Stone's life trying to figure out who might have killed the young man who was working to improve his life. But they are relying on police to find the killer.

"My real focus now," said Siembida, "is to see the person who did this brought to justice, if there is justice for this."

Anyone with information about the case may call Bradenton Police at 941-932-9300, ext. 311. To remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000, call Crime Stoppers toll free at 866-634-8477 (TIPS) or send an anonymous E-Tip at manateecrimestoppers.com.