Carrollwood Domestic Violence Victim Dies In Homicide/Suicide

CARROLLWOOD, FL — The body of a woman was found at a home in the Lake Magdalene area on Monday night, the apparent victim of a domestic violence homicide.

The body of the man suspected of killing her died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while negotiators were trying to convince him to come out of the home.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was called to a home in the 14000 block of Cherry Lake Drive at about 7 p.m. Monday. A mutual friend of the man and woman, who were in a relationship, called requesting a welfare check for the woman who was in her 40s and had previously been abused by the man.

Upon arrival, deputies saw what appeared to be the body of a woman inside a black trash bag in the back of a Jeep Compass parked outside the home.

Deputies tried to speak with the man, 52-year-old Charles Siminski, who refused to come out of the home. The sheriff's SWAT, bomb squad and crisis negotiation teams were called in.

After hours of attempting to negotiate with Siminski, he was found dead inside a bedroom from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Siminski had a criminal history of domestic violence involving the woman, including an arrest in September for battery and an incident on Dec. 4, in which the woman suffered a head laceration after reportedly jumping out of a limousine on North Dale Mabry Highway following a violent argument with Siminski.

"It is always a tragedy when a victim loses their life at the hands of their abuser when help is simply a phone call away," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "As we continue to investigate what led up to this incident, I am urging anyone who believes they are a victim of domestic violence or who knows someone who could be a victim to reach out for assistance through one of the many organizations in our community, including The Spring of Tampa Bay."

The Spring of Tampa Bay's 24-hour crisis hotline is 813-247-SAFE.

Sheriff Chad Chronister updates the media on a homicide investigation that occurred in the 14000 block of Cherry Lake Drive in the Lake Magdalene area.