New Evidence Indicates Foul Play in Case of Missing Pasco Woman

Evidence discovered at a Wesley Chapel home Monday may indicate foul play in the case of a missing woman, according to Pasco County Sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin.

Linda V. Losacano, 49, and her 5-year-old daughter were reported missing by Losacano's sister, who indicated she had not heard from her in about 17 days, Sheriff Chris Nocco said.

Deputies did a welfare check at her home at 27154 Ravens Brook Road Saturday at 12:30 p.m., then another at 1:30 a.m. Sunday without response, Nocco said.

Deputies returned to the home at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, finding the door locked again and no one answering. Deputies forced entry into the home out of concern for the child, and as they were searching heard shots fired within the residence at 7:19 p.m., according to the sheriff's office.

The 5-year-old girl was found and safely taken out of the home at that time, according to the sheriff's office.

The SWAT team was called out at 8 p.m. When they entered the home at 9:17 p.m., Timothy Dean Arnold, 48,  was found "with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound," according to the sheriff's office.

Losacano lived at the home with Arnold, along with the child, identified as their daughter, according to the sheriff's office. Losacano and Arnold were not married, Tobin said.

Losacano was last seen on or about April 14 in Pasco County. She is now classified as a missing endangered adult.

"We're hoping right now to still find her alive,"  Nocco said early Monday.

Despite the new evidence, the sheriff's office is continuing to work the investigation as a missing person's case at this time, Tobin said Monday evening.

According to a media release, the sheriff's office major crimes unit spent Monday "digging in the yard searching for possible evidence that might lead to the discovery of Linda V. Losacano." Dirt mounds in the yard were being checked, the release stated.

The child is now in the custody of Losacano's sister, according to the release.

If you have information about Losacano's whereabouts, contact Sgt. James Sessa  at 727-844-7711 or 727-844-7781.