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Man kills estranged wife's boyfriend before likely killing himself in apparent murder-suicide: HCSO

By and
Updated  March 19, 2025 9:55am EDT
Hillsborough County
FOX 13 News

HCSO investigates apparent murder-suicide

FOX 13's Kylie Jones reports on the HCSO investigating an apparent murder-suicide after they say a man "executed" his estranged wife's new boyfriend, then likely took his own life inside a vehicle that was found on fire.

The Brief

    • A man shot and killed his estranged wife's new boyfriend, then likely took his own life, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
    • It happened early Wednesday at a home along Drake Elm Terrace in Valrico.
    • Phillip Cordova, 51, has been identified as the shooter, with Sheriff Chad Chronister saying he's "confident" the body found in a burning vehicle near the home is that of Cordova.

VALRICO, Fla. - The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is investigating an apparent murder-suicide after they say a man "executed" his estranged wife's new boyfriend inside a home, then likely took his own life inside a vehicle that was found on fire.

What we know:

At a news conference on Wednesday morning, Sheriff Chad Chronister said Phillip Cordova, 51, recently learned that his estranged wife had been dating another man for the past three months.

Cordova sent his wife text messages over the past several days threatening to set himself on fire and take his own life, according to Chronister.

"He continues to tell her, texting her and calling her, that he’s going to come to her house and take his own life and that he’s going to light himself on fire," Chronister said.

Chronister said dispatchers got two 911 calls shortly before 4 a.m. Wednesday from a home in the 2400 block of Drake Elm Terrace in Valrico: one from Cordova's wife and another from the estranged couple's 12-year-old son, who was hiding in a closet upstairs.

Murder-suicide investigation: Full news conference

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister gave an update Wednesday on an apparent murder-suicide in a Valrico neighborhood.

"Emergency call takers on the estranged wife's phone hear her husband tell her new boyfriend ‘I’m going to kill you,' and then hear several gunshots," Chronister said.

A neighbor says he heard the incident happen.

"About four o’clock this morning, my cousin called me," Ricky Sewell, who lives in the neighborhood, said. "She lives right behind me, and she said she heard some gunfire shots and stuff.

Deputies arrived at the home about seven minutes after the initial call, Chronister said, and found the boyfriend shot multiple times inside the home along with a man who they believe to be Cordova inside a burning vehicle nearby.

"We feel confident that [Cordova] is the person who took his own life in the driveway," Chronister said, adding that he didn't want to confirm that with 100% certainty because the body is "burned beyond recognition."

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is investigating an apparent murder-suicide in a Valrico neighborhood.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is investigating an apparent murder-suicide in a Valrico neighborhood.

Chronister also said deputies safely got the "extremely distraught" 12-year-old boy out of the house and reunited him with his mother.

"We have a young boy who now, the idea of the family that he's known for 12 years, his family and his life have been shattered forever," Chronister said.

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What we don't know:

The name of the man who was killed inside the home has not been released because his next of kin have not yet been notified, according to Chronister.

The Source: This story was written using information from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

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