Susan Fast Murder
Thomas Fast Murder Trial
Manatee County Florida
Thomas fast, 52, had a falling out with his step mother, Susan Fast, and admitted he was at her home the day of her disappearance, June 30, 2007. Bruce Fast was out of the country when his wife disappeared, authorities say.
He became a suspect when he was dropped off by a taxi the morning after Susan Fast's disappearance at his car that was parked near the Fast home.
Police were at the truck when Fast arrived; a later search of his truck revealed handcuffs, a knife and plastic zip-ties inside.
The investigation into Susan Fast's disappearance went on for more than three weeks, and included numerous police searches but also a community search party that combed an area near Lorraine Road and University Parkway.
A GPS system in Susan's Lexus had been inadvertently switched on and never turned off during this time, and this particular type never turned of even though the ignition was turned off.
Police began to focus on the movements of the SUV in the past 24 hours during her initial disappearance. This is what eventually led them to Susan's dismembered body in Lakewood Ranch, in East Manatee County.
The search ended at a pond behind the Market Street Publix in Lakewood Ranch where authorities found Fast's dismembered body in plastic bags in the pond and crammed into the culvert.
Police also found Susan's Fast's wedding ring, ankle bracelet and Guchi watch, among the possessions of her stepson.
The jewelry was found stuffed inside a bar of deodorant that belonged to Thomas Fast. The bar was in one of two duffel bags he was found with the day after his stepmother's disappearance.
A detective examined the bag and its contents picking up a tube of Old Spice. He gave it a shake and heard something jingle.
Inside, authorities found the jewelry -- a key piece of evidence to connect Thomas Fast to the murder case.
Authorities have evidence from Fast's body, her jewelry and blood found at the Fast home, in Susan Fast's SUV and in Thomas Fast's truck. Authorities said the blood found in his truck shows a mix of male and female DNA. But, they will not say how she was killed, where it happened or who the source of the blood evidence is.
Bruce Fast, 76, had been married to Susan for 33 years. Fast has said his son long disliked Susan because she stood in the way of an inheritance. A family friend also told detectives that Thomas Fast was angry the Sunday before Susan's disappearance because they had lent money to his half-brother to start a business.
Bruce Fast has not talked to his son since 3 days after his incarcerated.
"I only spoke to him momentarily in prison to find out what he did with Susan," he said. "Haven't spoken to him since."
Fast will be called by the state to testify this week about the turbulent relationship between him, Susan and Thomas as well as events that led up to the killing.
Family members say that Thomas has suffered from bouts of delusions and paranoia, including bizarre beliefs involving his own family.
This is not a death penalty case. If Fast is convicted, he could face life in prison.
Resources...
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070727/NEWS/707270664?Title=Body-parts-confirmed-as-being-remains-of-Susan-Fast
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090706/ARTICLE/907061026/2055/NEWS?Title=Murder-trial-set-to-begin-today
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jul/07/jury-selection-complete-manatee-county-murder-tria/news-breaking/
http://mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com/tag/missing-person/page/8/
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070803/NEWS/708030328
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jul/07/jury-selection-complete-manatee-county-murder-tria/news-breaking/
UPDATES
To comment on this story click here!
07-14-09
Guilty As Charged
BRADENTON, FL. - Jurors have found a Manatee County man guilty of killing his stepmother, and then dumping her dismembered body in a Lakewood Ranch retention pond.
54-year-old Thomas Fast was found guilty late Monday night. Jurors spent more than five hours deliberating, and came back with the decision after 11pm.
"We the jury find as follows as to count one of the charge...the defendant is guilty of murder in the first-degree. We the jury finds as follows as to count two of the charge...the defendant is guilt of robbery.
The trial lasted a week, and included testimony from Thomas Fast's father, Bruce, the victim's best friend and Thomas Fast's cellmate in jail.
Read resource details...
http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=10720640&nav=menu577_2_1
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Thomas-Fast-guilty-of-killing-stepmom/IW-8fH-AtUuF-2GcGP9Z0w.cspx
07-09-09
Thursday's Testimony
Bruce Fast, father of accused killer Thomas Fast, took the stand Thursday to testify for the prosecution.
Bruce fast would not look his son in the eye during the testimony, or when entering and leaving the courtroom. He has openly said that he believes it is his son who murdered his wife, of 33 years, and left her body dismembered in garbage bags in a pond.
In a day of continued starts and stops and sidebars, Bruce Fast was finally able to testify about what happened the day he arrived to his home from a trip to the Bahamas. Susan Fast had arrived home a day earlier than Bruce, as she couldn't catch the same flight out.
Bruce testified that he made continued calls on to his home phone and cell phone, before his arrival, in an effort to contact his wife.
He didn't have his house keys and jimmied the back door open to get in. When looking around he found all of their kitchen knifes were in the dishwasher, which was odd as they usually, only, hand washed them.
He also discovered Susan's unwashed clothes on the washing machine and the kitchen rug and one other rug was in the washer.
The defense worked hard to implicate Bruce Fast, in order to cause reasonable doubt to the jury.
Defense attorney Franklin Roberts asked Fast about a volunteer search that he was involved in. Some of Susan's belongings were found just a few feet where Bruce had parked his car that day. Roberts said that the area had already been searched.
The defense also pointed out a conversation Bruce had with Thomas in jail. On the recorded conversation, Bruce said "This is the ring that Susan was wearing". Because you cannot enter with any type of jewelry on your person, it is assumed he was showing a picture.
The cab driver, who transported Thomas from a gas station back to his truck also took the stand. He had transported Thomas to his truck which was parked near the Fast residence. The gas station was located only a mile from where they found Susan's SUV.
The driver testified that Thomas said his name was Frank and that he was from North Carolina. Thomas wasn't wearing socks and shoes and he told the cab driver that a woman had attempted to rob him at knife point.
When the cab driver was asked what Thomas' demeanor was when he told the robbery story, he said " Non-chillant. Almost like it didn't bother him."
A female juror was accused of sleeping during the testimony and someone said they could even hear her snoring. She denied the claim but was let go anyway.
Testimony will resume at 8:30am EDT Friday morning. They expect the trial to go to the jury on Monday or Tuesday.
Cloey (NLH)
07-09-09
Wednesday's Testimony
In opening statements in the murder trial Wednesday, prosecutor Art Brown said Fast's blood was found in the victim's house and the driver's side of her vehicle.
And that SUV, Brown said, had GPS tracking that showed it was driven near the Lakewood Ranch retention pond where Susan Fast's body parts were discovered in garbage bags weeks after her disappearance.
But Fast's attorney says the DNA is not enough to prove that Thomas Fast killed Susan Fast.
And the defense plans to call witnesses who will further poke holes in the state's evidence and cast suspicion on Bruce Fast -- the victim's husband and the defendant's father.
Read resource details on Wednesdays testimony...
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090709/ARTICLE/907091069/2055/NEWS?Title=Prosecution-says-DNA-links-defendant-to-slaying
.