Sarasota woman sentenced to 15 years in prison for stabbing to death in 2022

Lina Portman1 week ago

10 3 minutes read

A Sarasota woman pleaded Tuesday and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in the stabbing death of a 53-year-old man after police conducted a well-being check when the woman failed to show up for work .

Sarasota police arrested Eugenia Bright, 44, in November 2022 in connection with the suspicious death of a man found stabbed in a bathroom. Bright was initially charged with second-degree murder; however, she pleaded no contest to aggravated manslaughter with a deadly weapon, which carries a potential maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

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According to court documents, Bright was deducted from her time served, 583 days, and she was also sentenced to three years of probation following her prison term. The judge ordered restitution to be paid, but reserved judgment on the amount, the court document said.

Bright also pleaded guilty to four counts in a separate 2021 case, including two counts of sale, manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was given credit for the 11 months and 29 days she served in the county jail. Bright was sentenced to two years of probation as a drug offender for each count running concurrently.

As part of probation, Bright may be transferred to Broward County and will be subject to a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., as well as a random urinalysis, and she is not allowed to consume illegal drugs or alcohol, according to court documents. Bright was also ordered to undergo drug treatment.

Investigators were called for a welfare check on Nov. 21, 2022, by Bright's employer, according to a previous Herald-Tribune report. When investigators arrived at an apartment in the 800 block of Mecca Drive in Sarasota just before 11 a.m. with emergency responders, they found Bright lying unconscious on the bed with several pills and a pill bottle next to her .

Investigators observed blood on a door next to the bed and on the floor, according to a probable cause affidavit. When they looked in the bathroom, police found the deceased man on the floor with large incisions, indicating he had been stabbed, according to the affidavit.

Investigators also found a chef's knife and a handwritten note with burial requests on a dresser. The note was signed by Bright's first and last name, officials said.

“I don’t want a funeral!!! ”, said the note. “Just cremate me!” Don't bring my body to Carlos Jones. Just find someone who will do a cremation! »

Bright was taken to a local hospital and given a dose of Narcan to treat the narcotics ingested, according to previous reports.

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Bright, groggy, told detectives she took 12 Xanax pills, with tears in her eyes as she told detectives she was tired, according to previous reports. She became too tired to continue speaking, and when detectives returned later, Bright invoked her right not to speak to police again, according to the affidavit.

Investigators recovered Bright's clothing, which contained traces of blood, as well as DNA samples taken from his hands, according to the affidavit. Authorities said there were no defensive injuries or signs of beatings.

'Blood sister' writes letter asking Sarasota judge to understand defendant's situation

A letter submitted on Bright's behalf by someone who claimed to be her “blood sister” explained to the judge that Bright had taken care of the writer for a long time and that whenever she needed it, Bright would be there for her. help.

The sister wrote to the judge that when she, her son and her dog needed a place to live while she looked for a new home, Bright opened her own home for them, so they would have a place to stay .

“She has the most beautiful heart and did a lot for me and many others, even if it meant she had to leave [without],” the letter states.

The letter writer added that Bright's mental health was not doing well as she was under a lot of stress the week before the incident. The woman says Bright had been screaming for help, but because she was so focused on finding a home for her and her son, she didn't notice the signs.

“I feel so bad that she screamed for help and had no one to run to,” the letter said. “It’s a lesson learned.”

Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support his work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at [email protected], or at Twitter.

'Blood sister' writes letter asking Sarasota judge to understand defendant's situation

Lina Portman

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