Man murdered in rural Manatee County home

BRADENTON (FOX 13) - Dwayne Hutchinson went by ‘Hutch’ and those who worked with him knew they could rely on him.

"He was a self-starter; really, really fast worker. Very intelligent guy," said Fred Demmons.

For 28 years he worked with the U.S Postal Service in St. Petersburg. He worked behind the scenes as a custodial group leader and made sure people's mail got to their carriers.

"He would be the guy that I would wanted to have me help with a really serious problem. I could count on him," said Demmons, who worked with Hutchinson and, like many, found out through social media that Hutchinson had been killed.

"I couldn't believe it. For someone to just murder Hutch is, first off, if it was a physical struggle, he was probably pretty ferocious," he said.

Deputies said Hutchinson's wife, Melissa called 911 Saturday morning around 1 a.m. to report a burglary in progress. She told deputies told two men got into their home off of Zipperer Road in East Manatee. After accosting her, they went upstairs.

"She told us she was fearful for her husband’s life. Her husband had gone upstairs to go to bed," said Dave Bristow with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Bristow said when deputies arrived the attackers were gone.  Upstairs they found Hutchinson dead in the bedroom.

Monday morning, deputies were back at the home, which is located in a remote area of Manatee County off a small country road.

"We do not think at this time that this was a random incident simply because, are you going to find that house and randomly do a home invasion there? We don't think so," said Bristow.

Deputies said Hutchinson has a clean record and nothing in his past to indicate why he would be targeted. They're asking for any help in identifying anyone responsible.

"This is a case that we have all hands on deck for and we need the public's help here. We are hoping that someone out there knows something. We know they do and they will step forward," added Bristow.

If you have any information on the case call MCSO at 941-747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.