DNA leads to suspected Charlotte County Walmart thief

By FOX 4 Staff

CREATED Aug. 28, 2012

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  • Tyler Ray Kerry

DEEP CREEK, Fla. - Charlotte County detectives arrested a Port Charlotte man on Monday in connection with a smash and grab robbery of 33 rings from the Walmart in Deep Creek.

The robbery occurred on May 29th.  Deputies responded to a call at the Deep Creek Walmart where a man used a small hammer to smash a glass jewelry case.  The man snatched a display case containing 33 rings and fled on foot and over a parking lot fence making his getaway.

Deputies later found part of the stolen ring display case and several rings in the median of Kings Highway. The deputy later found another part of the display case with nothing in it on the I-75 overpass embankment. Detectives recovered 24 rings that night, and were able to locate eight more pawned May 30 at Gulf Coast Metals in Port Charlotte. 

Crime scene investigators managed to gather blood samples from the display case which were sent to FDLE for a DNA match.

That led to the arrest of 20-year-old Tyler Ray Kerry.   He was already being held for Burglary and Grand Theft charges for breaking into a home on Palmetto Drive and stealing $1,140 in televisions and tools. He was identified by his fingerprints left at that scene. Kerry remains in jail on no bond.