Woman Charged With 1st Degree Murder In Death Of Father: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A St. Petersburg woman was arrested Friday morning on first-degree murder charges in the death of her father about three years ago, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said.

Shannon Gillespie, 47, is accused of fatally beating and stabbing her father, Daniel Gillespie Jr., 71, Nov. 15, 2018, inside his Clearwater home, 1506 Meadow Dale Drive.

Detectives said on Nov. 18, 2018, the victim died of unnatural causes. Investigators later learned Shannon Gillespie hid inside her dad's home and then surprised him by beating and stabbing him, deputies said. The cause of death changed to homicide.

PSCO deputies arrested Shannon Gillespie at her St. Pete home, 1105 Highland Street, Friday morning. Authorities also charged her with battery as there was another female at her house that she fought with when police were present.