The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office filed burglary charges today against William Case, DOB 4/5/63, 2061 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, the man who tried to shoot a deputy serving an eviction notice on April 12, 2012, and who was shot by the deputy in self-defense.

At the time of his arrest, detectives obtained Case’s fingerprints and recovered clothing Case was wearing at the time of the incident. Members of the Forensics Unit soon determined that his fingerprints and shoe pattern were consistent with evidence left at a burglary at 2174 Schwalbe Way on March 31, 2011. The burglary was discovered at the same time deputies found Karen Courts murdered in her home across the street.

Additional forensic evidence from the scene of the burglary and the murder has been submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for analysis. Based on the time of these crimes, evidence gathered to date, plus the video showing a man similar in appearance to Case leaving Courts’ car at Westfield Sarasota Square, Case is now the prime suspect in the murder.

Investigators are interested in hearing from anyone with information on William Case. Please call Criminal Investigations at 941-861-4900.