Police seeking person of interest in death deemed suspicious
A Cape Coral man’s death is being investigated as suspicious with police looking to speak with the person’s brother.
The investigation began after a medical incident call came into 9-1-1 Tuesday.
Francis G. Tolbert, 71, was found bleeding from the back of his head by Lee County EMS and police, who had responded to his home in the northwest Cape after getting a call concerning a person in cardiac arrest.
Cape Coral Police Department officials at a press conference on Wednesday said when they arrived, Tolbert still had a faint pulse but soon after, he was declared deceased.
CCPD Chief Sizemore said officers found a shell casing near Tolbert while collecting evidence, leading them to call for investigators.
“Our violent crimes detectives were immediately summoned, and launched an investigation due to the circumstances suggesting foul play,” Sizemore said.
Sizemore said the investigation revealed one brother, later identified as John William Tolbert, 58, was in the house with Francis Tolbert and left about an hour before police and EMS arrived.
Sizemore said John Tolbert is a person of interest for CCPD.
“We believe he fled the area,” CCPD officials stated. “There was no gun found at the residence.”
Sizemore said an autopsy was performed Wednesday morning which revealed Francis Tolbert had a bullet fragment in his head, which is not believed to be self-inflicted.
“We give our sincerest condolences to the victim’s family. This is an unimaginable loss,” Sizemore said. “Our work will not stop until this case is solved.”
Police ask those with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com