A woman in Florida has been charged with murder after her 54-year-old sister was found dead in their St. Petersburg home, according to authorities.
Sherry Howard was strangled Tuesday by her sister, 39-year-old Charee Nichole Howard, in the St. Petersburg home they shared in the 600 block of Newton Avenue South, according to police. Now the younger sister, who is a licensed physician, faces a second-degree murder charge.
One sister’s death and the other’s arrest stunned people who know the women, including local elected officials and other community leaders who said the siblings were close and shared a desire to improve the city their family has called home for decades.
Police said Charee Howard called 911 just before 3 p.m. Tuesday and said she had just killed Sherry Howard by choking her, according to an arrest affidavit.
Officers found Sherry Howard’s body on the floor just inside the front door. Sherry Howard appeared to have injuries consistent with being choked, police said.
Police said the Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner’s Office was working to determine her cause of death.
Charee Howard was booked at the Pinellas County jail at about 9:20 p.m. Tuesday and she remained there Wednesday. Bail information was not yet available. An assistant public defender was appointed to represent her and entered a not guilty plea on her behalf.
Sherry Howard worked for Keller Williams until last month and at the time of her death was an independent real estate consultant, according to her LinkedIn page.
Charee Howard is a licensed osteopathic physician in Florida and is owner and chief executive officer of a business called On the Go D.O., state records show.
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