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Florida man accused of killing tourist, having sex with her body

ASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – The mysterious murder of a Maine tourist whose skeletonized remains were found in Pasco County took a bizarre turn when authorities announced disturbing new details in the case. On Friday, detectives said the man accused of killing Judith Therianos, 52, had sex with her body after he killed her.

Therianos’ skeletonized body was found in a wooded area near 6633 U.S. 19 in Port Richey in early April. Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said the investigating team was able to lift a fingerprint. That allowed investigators to identify the victim.

Therianos and a friend had traveled to the Tampa Bay area from Maine. She was visiting friends here on February 15. She was dropped off at a friend’s house and was traveling to another friend’s house when she went missing.

Judith Therianos

On Friday, April 29, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office detectives announced that they had arrested Timothy Frederick Johnson, 25, in connection with Therianos’ death. Online jail records say Johnson is homeless in the New Port Richey area.

Investigators say Johnson met Therianos at a liquor store in March. He allegedly killed her when they were having sex. Detectives say Johnson then went to a Waffle House and returned and had sex with Therianos’ body after she died.

Sheriff Nocco is concerned that Johnson might have other victims.

“This is a very sick individual. For what he did to Judith, for the acts he continued to perform, and that’s why we’re going to investigate to see if there’s any other cases he may be linked to,” said Nocco.

According to an arrest affidavit, Therianos’ skull was crushed. The affidavit said that after the killing Johnson was incarcerated on other charges and told a fellow inmate at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center that he killed a woman and then described what happened. Johnson allegedly told the inmate that he stole Therianos’ debit card and used it at a Waffle House.

Johnson is charged with premeditated homicide and is being held at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center.

A family spokesman in Bangor, Maine talked with News Channel 8 Friday. They family worked with a search and rescue service to find Therianos, Richard Bowie, a representative of that service, said.

“They’re not in good shape. They’ve actually asked us to speak for them because they’re emotionally devastated. I know that the family will need some time,” Bowie said. “She was a very free and loving person. She’s one of those kind of people that makes everybody happy everywhere she comes into contact with people.”

“In this case, when they hadn’t heard from her; it was very abnormal not to hear over Easter, any contact, things like that, they began to grow more and more concerned,” he added.

Bowie said the family will monitor every aspect of the case. The search and rescue company had teams walking the area. In fact, a team came was within 30 feet of Therianos at one point without knowing it.