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Tattooed man arrested for 2001 cold case murder in Tampa area

WPTV-Randy-Petersilge.jpg
Posted at 11:44 AM, Apr 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-08 11:50:20-04

NEW PORT RICHIE, Fla. — A Florida man whose face is covered entirely in tattoos is under arrest for a 2001 cold case murder.

The New Port Richey Police Department said 51-year-old Randy Petersilge beat 41-year-old Simon Clark to death on Nov. 28, 2001.

Police said Petersilge was named as a possible suspect early on in the investigation, but was never arrested.

In 2017, New Port Richey police reopened the case, with detectives conducting additional investigation and interviews.

On Jan. 11, 2018, a grand jury indicted Petersilge for first-degree murder.

Petersilge was in federal prison for a separate crime at the time of his indictment, and was eventually arrested for Clark's murder when he was released from prison on April 5.

He'll eventually be extradited to the Pasco County Jail.