Authorities Identify Man Found Dead in House

The New Port Richey Police Department announced Thursday that the man found dead in a vacant home has been identified as 44-year-old Samuel Martinez Pratts.

Pratts' last known home 7740 Pinehurst Dr., Spring Hill.

Police officers and Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies went to a home at 7440 U.S. 19 in New Port Richey around 5:30 p.m. Monday after . The case was opened as a homicide investigation.

“We have some very promising leads,” Acting Police Chief James Steffens said Thursday.

Steffens said the cause of death and other details were not being released because it was a “very active” investigation.  He said that the man had trauma to the body.

The body has been brought to the state Medical Examiner's Office for official determination of cause of death. The residence the man was found in is behind a Citgo gas station, which is located at U.S. 19 and Belleview Avenue.

Steffens said the house is a destination location for “hanging out and narcotics use.”