- April 18, 2024
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It has been seven months. It appeared to be a case that was growing too cold to have any hope of an arrest.
But, on Thursday, Joseph Frank Bova II, 25, whose last known address was 4600 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell, was arrested by detectives with the Boca Raton Police Department on a warrant issued out of Flagler County on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the Feb. 21 execution-style shooting of Zuheily Rosado, a convenience store clerk who had been working at the Mobil gas station on State Road 100.
There is still no clear motive for the crime at this time, which is what Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre said makes this case even more unsettling.
Bova is reported to have no criminal history, history of mental illness or connection to Rosado. At the time of questioning, he was reported to be lucid and able to answer questions. Investigators said Bova made some incriminating statements, but no clear confession.
While an arrest is the culmination of a seven-month effort, Investigator Nate Koep stressed the investigation is ongoing.
Early on, investigators learned that a SCCY 9-mm semiautomatic handgun had been used in the attack.
The uniqueness of the make and caliber of the weapon, which is manufactured in Daytona Beach, allowed investigators to narrow the search.
As a result, investigators obtained court orders for purchase records and learned that Bova had purchased a handgun in June 2012 from Buck’s Gun Rack, in Daytona Beach, that was similar to the one used in the homicide.
Bova left town shortly after the murder, and when his landlord was cleaning out his apartment, a bullet with the same ballistics as the Rosado murder weapon was found.
But the big break in the investigation came from an anonymous CrimeStoppers tip, which was able to connect Bova to a surveillance video from the Mobil that was obtained on the night of the homicide, which showed a man, now believed to be Bova, entering the store and using the store’s ATM several hours prior to the shooting. Bova was identified as a person of interest.
Last week, investigators located Bova in Boca Raton, where he was living out of his vehicle. Flagler investigators traveled to Boca Raton on Monday and secured a search warrant for Bova’s vehicle.
A search of the vehicle was conducted on Tuesday, at which time a handgun was recovered from inside the vehicle. Investigators submitted the handgun for examination to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and for comparison with the three shell cartridge casings that were recovered at the homicide scene on the night of Rosado’s death.
Investigators were notified Wednesday by FDLE that the handgun that had been recovered from Bova’s vehicle was a match to the weapon used in the homicide. Investigators then secured a warrant for Bova’s arrest.
Bova was booked into the Palm Beach County Detention facility Thursday evening, where he is being held on no bond to await return to Flagler County.
“This has been a difficult time for the residents, the family — and I’m very proud we have been able to make an arrest,” Manfre said.
Upon being informed of the arrest, Manfre said, Rosado’s family appeared relieved that a suspect has been identified. He added that they are trying to get a handle on the situation and that the random nature of the crime is not going to make the healing process easy.
“Ms. Rosado’s death was both tragic and senseless,” Manfre said. “This man has forever changed the lives of Ms. Rosado’s children, her parents, other family members and friends.”
