Deputy Abigail Bieber's Funeral Set For Friday In Clearwater

CLEARWATER, FL — Family, friends and the community will soon say a final farewell to a Hillsborough County deputy killed in a murder-suicide last month.

Funeral services to remember and celebrate the life and service of Deputy Abigail Bieber will take place Friday. The public is welcome to attend.

The service will take place at 11 a.m. at Countryside Christian Church, located at 1850 N. McMullen Booth Rd. in Clearwater.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has asked that guests arrive and be parked between 10:30 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. Public parking will be on the north side of the church's property.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Boys and Girls Club (Hachem Foundation Club), Mary Lee's House and Maxx & Me Pet Rescue—three causes that were close to Deputy Bieber's heart.

SEE ALSO:

• Deputy Killed In Murder-Suicide Wanted To Work With Child Victims

According to authorities, Bieber and sheriff's Detective Daniel Leyden, who were in a romantic relationship, were at a vacation rental home in St. Augustine last month with fellow deputies when they were heard arguing in a bedroom followed by the sound of gunshots.

The fellow deputies entered the room and found both Leyden and Bieber fatally shot. The sheriff's office said it appears that Leyden shot Bieber and then shot himself.

The shooting remains under investigation by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

Originally from Maryland, Bieber relocated to Florida in 2016 and had worked with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office since Feb. 2018, according to her obituary.

"Abby [Bieber] was just recently approved by her command staff to begin an assignment in the HCSO Street Crimes unit," a portion of her obituary reads. "This transition likely would have led her to her 'dream job' as a detective in the special victims' section of the criminal investigations division as a specialist in crimes against children."

She leaves behind her parents, two brothers and many cousins, aunts and uncles.

Those experiencing abuse and is in need of help can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.