Florida man leaves prison, then is arrested in connection with 2001 slaying

A Florida man was arrested Friday in connection with a 2001 murder -- the day he was released from federal prison after serving time for another crime.

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Randy Petersilge, 51, was arrested on a Pasco County warrant for first-degree murder in the Nov. 28, 2001, death of 41-year-old Simon Clark, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Clark was found dead in New Port Richey as a result of blunt force trauma, the newspaper reported.

There were no arrests made at the time, but Petersilge had been a possible suspect, WTSP reported.

Police reopened the case in 2017, and on Jan. 11, 2018, a grand jury indicted Petersilge on a first-degree murder charge, WFLA reported.

In 2015, Petersilge was convicted in federal court for possession of a firearm as a felon, the Times reported. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison.

He was leaving prison Friday after serving that sentence when he was arrested, the newspaper reported.

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