March 26, 2011
Calling the case of missing police cadet Kelly Rothwell suspicious, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office executed a second search warrant Thursday at the Indian Rocks Beach condo, where Rothwell lived with her boyfriend David Perry.
Rothwell, a police cadet training in St. Petersburg, was reported missing March 13. She was last seen March 12, when she was on her way to break up with Perry, according to her friend Donna Scharrett, who first contacted police.
Det. Mike Bailey also released new information Friday about attempts by investigators to meet with Perry, who has refused to talk with detectives.
Bailey said that Perry, who left for New York the weekend Rothwell disappeared, has consented to have his vehicle searched by detectives there. He also is providing a timeline of his activities through a spokesman for his attorney.
Bailey said that Perry consented to only give information on three hours of that timeline. According to Bailey, it is unclear at this time whether or not Perry has, in fact, hired an attorney.
“The information we have received via email about Perry’s limited cooperation is from an attorney spokesperson. We are not aware if he has actually hired an attorney to represent him,” Bailey said. “Our question remains that we are left to wonder is why he would need an attorney if he has not been charged with any crime. We just don’t know.”
Bailey said that the Florida investigation included processing Rothwell’s car, found at a Holiday Inn two miles from her house. Bailey declined to say if any substantial evidence pertaining to Rothwell’s disappearance was found.
Detectives interviewed friends, family and neighbors of Rothwell and Perry.
Bailey confirmed that on March 14 David Perry’s son, David Perry Jr., showed up at the condo and tried to remove a cardboard box, which detectives took into their possession and have at this time.
Bailey has declined to describe the contents of the box. Perry Jr., who lives near Indian Rocks Beach, then left Florida and returned to Elmira, New York. Bailey said that Perry Jr. just returned to Florida.
Perry Sr. has been unavailable for comment.
The last time anyone heard from Rothwell was March 12, when she had lunch with Scharrett at a Chili’s restaurant. Scharrett said that Rothwell told her she planned to end her relationship with Perry.
Rothwell had planned to move in with friends in the Palm Harbor area. Scharrett said that Rothwell had described Perry’s behavior as very controlling and possessive, and that he had been reading her emails.
Scharrett asked deputies to perform a welfare check at the condo. Neither Rothwell nor Perry were inside the condo, and both of their cars were gone. Most of the furniture and belongings were undisturbed.
