A man has been arrested for the murder of 64-year-old Valerie Dandrea in Keystone, following a fatal altercation early Monday morning, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) reported. Deputies responded to an emergency call just before 5 a.m. to find Dandrea unresponsive with upper body trauma at a residence on Crescent Road, according to HCSO's official narrative.
Cris Jennings, 53, who resides in a separate structure on the property where the homicide took place, was apprehended and is now facing multiple charges, Pre-meditated First-Degree Murder, Armed Burglary with Battery x2, Aggravated Battery, Armed False Imprisonment, as outlined in the Sheriff's Office press release. During the investigation, Jennings admitted to the shooting of Dandrea, after a verbal argument escalated over cash, the office of Sheriff Chad Chronister noted, indicating that this was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public. The arrest was also communicated by Tampa Bay Times.
Sheriff Chronister was quoted stating, "Our deputies acted quickly to apprehend the suspect and bring some measure of closure to the victim's family," emphasizing the department's dedication to solving the case swiftly. The Sheriff added, "This tragic incident underscores our commitment to ensuring that those who commit violent acts are held accountable," in the official release from HCSo.
Apart from the murder charge, Jennings also faces accusations related to threatening another individual with a firearm on his premises prior to law enforcement's arrival. The incident, says HCSO, is still under active investigation, with additional information to be released by the Public Affairs Office. The narrative was corroborated by FOX 13 News, which detailed Jennings's admission regarding the fatal shooting following the dispute over money.
