Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Cameron discussed Wednesday the 11-year chase for the murderers responsible for the death of 19-year-old Tara Sidarovich on Oc.t 1, 2001.
Cameron praised the Cold Case Unit and the work of the CCSO Fugitive Apprehension Unit assigned to the U.S. Marshal Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force after a second arrest was made Wednesday.
"I am extremely pleased to have our second suspect Phillip Barr in custody today," Cameron said. "We are not sure at this time when Barr will be returned to Charlotte County to face the murder charges. If he fights extradition it will take time, but, if he waives extradition, he could be returned here much faster. I assure you, either way, he will be back."
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Tara Sidarovich
Cameron said the Cold Case Unit members contacted Tara's mother quickly to let her know a second man was now in custody.
"Justice for Tara has been a top priority for our Cold Case Squad," Cameron said. "I promised Tara's mother that we would never stop looking for those who took her Tara's life."
David Ray McMannis, 39, was arrested Oct. 26 in Cumberland, Md., and transported to the Charlotte County Jail Nov. 8.
McMannis' brother, Wayne McMannis, said his brother was innocent and his Facebook site is asking for defense funds.
"We feel strongly about the evidence we have in this murder case and we were surprised at Wayne's comments to the media because Wayne McMannis was very helpful in this case," Cameron said. "We have a lot of witnesses who have been interviewed in this investigation over the years, and not all have been truthful. Last week we arrested Linda Fay Dille, 46, of Punta Gorda on two counts of perjury; she was Barr's ex-girlfriend."
CCSO Cold Case Supervisor Mike Gandy said this is still an active case.
"We will be re-interviewing statements made by those in the past and those who may now want to come forward with the truth," Gandy said. "Both Barr and McMannis were indicted by a Charlotte County Grand Jury on the first-degree murder charges in October. This has been a very tedious, very slow process, and there have been thousands and thousands of hours spent on Tara's case."
