Andrew Ridgeway, 46, has been arrested in Georgia in connection with the death of his girlfriend, 48-year-old Stacy Ann Powell, in Auburndale, Florida. Ridgeway is facing charges of second-degree murder and providing false information to law enforcement.
Powell was reported missing on Thursday, February 6th, after she failed to log into her work computer for two days. When officers visited her home, they spoke with a handyman who had been hired to do some work on the property. The handyman informed them that neither Powell nor Ridgeway were home.
READ: Lakeland Woman’s “Go Big” Escape Attempt Ends In Polk County Jail
During the conversation, Ridgeway called the handyman, apparently alerted to the police presence by security cameras at the residence. In a subsequent phone call with an officer, Ridgeway claimed to be in North Carolina with Powell’s grandmother and that Powell had flown to Jamaica to visit her father.
However, investigators quickly determined that Ridgeway’s story was fabricated. Powell’s father lives in North Carolina, not Jamaica, and her grandmother was confirmed to be in Auburndale.
On February 6th, officers executed a search warrant at Powell’s home and discovered her body. “Stacy Ann Powell had been brutally and savagely attacked and murdered,” said Auburndale Police Chief Terry Storie. The crime scene was so gruesome that it required three crime scene technicians to process.
READ : ICE Lodges Immigration Detainer Against Illegal Alien Accused Of Grisly Massachusetts Murder
Chief Storie described the attack as “brutal” and stated that the severity of Powell’s injuries delayed identification. Investigators believe Powell was killed on the afternoon or evening of February 4th.
Ridgeway was apprehended the following day in Georgia, driving Powell’s Dodge Ram pickup truck. He is currently awaiting extradition back to Florida.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Auburndale Police Department at 863-965-5555.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.