A 76-year-old man has been charged with the murder of his 53-year-old wife in their Tamarac, Florida home, the Broward Sheriff's Office announced. Rolland Powell was arrested by the office’s V.I.P.E.R. unit and faces a first-degree murder charge after his wife, Janice Herbert, was found shot to death on March 15, in what detectives believe was a staged burglary.
The call that brought deputies to their Tamarac home in the 4500 block of Northwest 45th Court came late at 11:43 p.m., where Herbert was found deceased from gunshot wounds, as reported by Local 10 News. Powell, was taken to the Broward Main Jail, jail records confirm his charge for first-degree murder with a firearm. According to the Broward Sheriff's Office spokesman Carey Codd, Powell’s initial statements to detectives were inconsistent and suggested an attempt to mislead the investigation.
The neighborhood where the crime took place is generally known for its safety, with residents expressing shock and confusion over the tragedy. "Usually it’s very quiet and it’s quite safe," neighbor Linda Brann told Local 10 News last week.
The details of the crime began to surface after initial reports of the shooting left the community looking for answers. The Broward Sheriff's Office has been actively investigating the case, with their Homicide and Crime Scene units at the scene. Prior to Powell's arrest, the BSO had made a public plea, urging anyone with information to come forward, "Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477," as per coverage by NBC Miami.
