In Hernando County, jurors have found 46-year-old R W Resca Jr. guilty of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the 2023 death of his 75-year-old mother, Dabanee Cook-Resca.
On November 19, 2023, deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to a report of a possible deceased person in a storm drain off Cortez Boulevard. First responders confirmed the presence of human remains, which were in the early stages of decomposition. The victim, later identified as Cook-Resca, was discovered wearing only a bathrobe, with her debit card found in a pocket. A gunshot wound to the chest was noted during the investigation.
The investigation quickly focused on the victim’s home nearby, where Resca lived with his mother. Major Crimes detectives questioned Resca about her whereabouts. During the interview, he displayed signs of nervousness and sweating. When informed that his mother’s body had been located and that her death was being treated as a homicide, Resca ultimately confessed to killing her and disposing of her body.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Lori Ellingsworth and Benjamin Larison, who secured the jury verdict Friday afternoon.
Cook-Resca’s tragic death highlights the critical work of HCSO deputies and detectives in investigating and solving violent crimes within the community.
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