Man arrested for Spring Hill double murder | News

SPRING HILL, Fla. - Officials with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office believe a double murder in Spring Hill points to prescription drugs. Craig Aaron Lede was arrested Saturday after deputies said he beat 29-year-old John Ketsemidis and his girlfriend, 28-year-old Dana Nelson, to death.

"I'm absolutely shocked at what happened. I really am," said a friend of Ketsemidis, Joel Powers. "He'd tell you, 'Hey, bud,  I love you, man. See you later.' He was...there ain't a bad bone in his body."

According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, Lede beat both Ketsemidis and Nelson repeatedly with a baseball bat at his home along the 4200 block of Gondolier Road in Spring Hill. Investigators say the couple came over to talk about money they owed Lede, who became enraged when they couldn't pay. Lede then took pictures of the bodies for trophies, according to investigators.

Both the victims and Lede have extensive criminal histories. Authorities believe this is indirectly linked to prescription drugs.

"The common denominator is that they were all three patients at a local pain management clinic. So, while we can't prove that it was related to pain pills, it points in that direction," said Corp. Wendy McGinnis with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

The epidemic is the reason for an event Saturday, where doctors and stakeholders got together to educate themselves. Special prosecutor for the Attorney General's Office Dave Aronberg calls prescription drug abuse the number one public safety threat in Florida, killing seven people each day. He said the Bay area is one of the main targets.

"We are focusing our resources here to try to reduce the number of these pill mills, to try to reduce the number of prescription drug deaths, and you see the direct and indirect impact it has on the community," said Aronberg.

The investigation into the double murder continues.

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