Man Lured to Vacant Home in 'Brutal' Murder

Samuel Martinez Pratts met Adam Ekdahl and three women in November at the Travel Inn motel on U.S. 19 in New Port Richey, authorities said Wednesday.

Little did Pratts know, Ekdahl would strike him later that night in a vacant home  at the start of an attack that ended Pratts' life, according to police.

Ekdahl and the three women who were at the house during the incident were arrested Tuesday in connection with the crime, and each was charged with first degree murder.

“The scene was bloody,” Acting New Port Richey Police Chief James Steffens said. “It was brutal. And eventually he (Pratts) succumbed to his injuries.”

The four had conspired to rob Pratts, Steffens said.

The women were identified Wednesday as Zoraina Castillo, Staci Gurney and Courtney Keeven.

Late at night on Thursday, Nov. 10, Pratts, 44, rode his bicycle to the Travel Inn, where suspects were hanging out.

Pratts inquired with them about getting drugs and engaging in some activity, said New Port Richey police detective Christopher Mellecker.

Police say suspects formulated a plan to steal money and drugs from Pratts.

Pratts was lured with offers of illicit activity to a nearby vacant house at 7440 U.S. 19 in New Port Richey that night, Steffens said. He entered the building, located just down the road from the motel, with Keeven and Gurney, according to police.

Mellecker said it is believed that there was talk of drug activity. There were offers of sexual favors from the two women that were used to entice Pratts, according to an arrest report.

The suspects knew that the house was east behind a Citgo gas station and not easily visible, police said.

Ekdahl hid in vegetation near the abandoned building with Castillo as Pratts entered the house, according to authorities.

Ekdahl told detectives he and Castillo, who held a flashlight, entered the house, and Ekdahl hit Pratts in the back of the head with a blunt object. Pratts fell to his hands and knees, and Ekdahl struck him again. Ekdahl then continued hitting him as he fled. The attack started in a bedroom and continued to different parts of the house, Steffens said.

The attack continued until Pratts stopped moving. The suspects rummaged through his pockets then fled the house.

Pratts had tried to flee the attack, Steffens said.

Steffens said forensic evidence supports that Pratts was alive when the suspects left.

Ekdahl told deputies he threw his weapon, reportedly a baseball bat, into the Pithlachascotee River, where divers were searching Wednesday.

Police have not recovered the weapon.

Ekdahl told detectives he went back to the scene within the hour with Keeven but did not find the money and drugs he was looking for on Pratts.

Steffens said the suspects revisited the crime scene in the following days. One visit was with Courtney Keeven’s mother, Melissa Keeven. Authorities are looking to speak with her.

“Not only did they (the suspects) revisit the crime scene, but they brought other associates to view the crime scene … to view Mr. Pratts body,” Steffens said, “and not a one of them contacted police."

Police officers and Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies went to the home Monday Nov. 14 after . The case was opened as a homicide investigation.

Mellecker and Chris Anderson were lead detectives for the police department; and the sheriff's office and other law enforcement agencies assisted.

Pratts had two daughters, one who is 5 and another who is 25, said his sister-in-law Jennifer Pratts.

Pratts’ 79-year-old mother had recently moved to the area, and he lived with her in Port Richey. He worked for Bright House at a warehouse, said Jennifer Pratts, who lives in Spring Hill. Samuel Pratts had also lived in Spring Hill, according to police.

Jennifer Pratts said authorities went to her house to tell her and her husband about her brother-in-law’s death.

“It was hard,” she said. “Because now we have to go tell a 79-year-old woman, ‘Hey, Mami, I’m sorry, but some ungrateful person took the life of your son.'”

“We want justice being done, so a thing like this won’t happen again,” said Angel Ramos, who is married to Samuel Pratts' sister. "And I want to thank God for these guys,” he said of the detectives, choking up.

“We just want to know why,” Jennifer Pratts said. “If you’re going to rob him, rob him. Take his cell phone, take his bike. But you didn’t have to take his life. You didn't have to at all.”

Ekdahl, 24, of Holiday, was arrested on a charge of burglary the day before the body was discovered and was in Land O’ Lakes jail when detectives questioned him about the murder.

Charges suspects face in relation to the death of Samuel Martinez Pratts include:

Adam Ekdahl, 24,  24716 Cherrywood Drive, Holiday

• 1^st degree murder
• Conspiring to commit robbery
• Two counts of dealing in stolen property

Zoraina Castillo, 18, No address listed

• 1st degree murder

Staci Gurney, 19, 6739 Camelian Ave, Port Richey

• 1^st degree murder
• Consipracy to commit robbery

Courtney Ann Keeven, 18, 4827 Grandview Lane, New Port Richey

• 1^st degree murder
• Conspiracy to commit robbery