Pinellas Deputies Make Arrest in the June Murder of a Safety Harbor Man
Detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 40 year-old Michael Robert Jose Harbaugh for murder.
At about 11:24 a.m. on June 19, 2017, deputies responded to a residence located at 13 Harbor Oaks Circle, Safety Harbor for a deceased person.
According to investigators, deputies found the body of the victim, 61-year-old David Sommer, after a Meals on Wheels food delivery person alerted deputies to their discovery.
Sommer was found inside his residence and was the victim of homicidal violence.
Detectives say the investigation revealed that on Sunday, June 18, 2017, at about 11:45 p.m. Michael Robert-Jose Harbaugh told neighbors that Sommer owed him money for yard work completed earlier in the day. Harbaugh was a neighbor of David Sommer and lived at 36 Harbor Oaks Circle. He reportedly went to Sommer’s residence to collect the money.
Detectives say while in the home, Harbaugh committed the crime of robbery and while in the commission of the robbery the victim died of homicidal violence.
Harbaugh was captured on surveillance video entering and exiting the victim’s home.
Detectives say Harbaugh made inconsistent statements to investigators. He identified himself as the person depicted on the surveillance video entering and exiting the victim’s residence.
There were no additional persons depicted entering or leaving the residence of the victim after Harbaugh exited the victim’s home and the victim was found deceased by deputies.
On October 27, 2017, detectives arrested Harbaugh on one count of first-degree felony murder.
Harbaugh was already in custody since June 20, 2017, for an unrelated charge of violation of probation for felony battery in 2015.
The investigation continues.