How a Ford F-150 and 2 poodles put a Florida man behind bars for murder
The Ford F-150. Like a dog, it can be man’s best friend. Especially around work sites, when moving across town, or towing weekend toys. But for this Florida man, his F-150 was the key to putting him behind bars for a 2021 murder years after the fact. Well, the F-150 and a couple of furry companions.
A 69-year-old Florida man got life in prison for killing a man years ago– all thanks to his Ford F-150 and two dogs
In December of 2021, a Floridian discovered a grisly sight: a dead person left in the dirt without care or ceremony. Police set to work trying to solve the mystery surrounding the death, which they ultimately ruled a murder. So, the authorities had the body of a man, obviously killed by gunfire. But they didn’t have a suspect. Not until a photograph of a Ford F-150 shed some light on things.
The victim still had his cell phone on his person at the time of his death. Police recovered it and searched it. That’s when they saw it: a photo on the phone of a Ford F-150 from the day of the murder. Better yet, the image showed the F-150’s license plate. From there, it didn’t take long for police to track down the pickup truck’s owner.
The truck belonged to a 69-year-old Florida man named Stuart Earl Mauney. Now, a picture of Mauney’s truck is cause for investigation, but not a clear indication that he was the gunman. But the follow-up investigative work continued to tie Mauney to the killing. Police questioned a hunter who recalled seeing a man “walking two large poodles” on the day of the murder, per the Tampa Free Press.
That detail is important, as police found two large poodles running around at the murder scene. Coincidence? Not really. The hunter also identified the victim, Mauney, and the Ford F-150 after seeing them at a stop on Purify Bay Road. It was enough to search Mauney’s home.
Police found the truck, shoes with a tread pattern matching footprints at the scene, and a box of ammunition matching the bullets used in the killing. The police had their man. But not without the help of one Ford F-150 and two large dogs.
