Polk kidnapping suspect Sloan Aaron Maybeck, 44, has been found dead in St. Petersburg by an apparent suicide.
Maybeck was wanted in Polk County for two counts of attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping, and carjacking.
He was found dead by a 7-Eleven on 4th Street North in St. Pete. He was found by the fence with a belt around his neck Saturday morning.
Around 5:30 p.m. on Friday Maybeck took a vehicle from a local business in the Bartow area. Inside the vehicle was a 14-month-old child, and a 30-year-old adult male with diminished mental capacity.
“Maybeck had a violent past and it appears that violence led to his own death by his own hands,” Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said. “He was facing serious criminal charges after stealing a car with a baby and a disabled adult inside. Being concerned that his violent acts of desperation would result in more victims, a multi-jurisdiction search was conducted throughout the night. Ultimately his irrational acts led to him taking his own life.”
The mother of the two victims inside the car Candace Joiner tried to stop the suspect. But the suspect drove off, dragging the mother, and a citizen attempting to help, about 30 feet. He went west on S.R.60.
The children were located unharmed in Bartow. Maybeck had stopped the stolen car in the area of Floral Avenue and ordered the children out. He left Polk County. The vehicle was recovered in Bradenton where PCSO deputies learned Maybeck had stolen another vehicle.
Maybeck has criminal history in Pinellas and Polk, including cocaine and burglary charges.
The investigation is ongoing.
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