Florida 2012 cold case murder solved thanks to DNA evidence and profiling

On the evening of January 19, 2012 at approximately 10:00 p.m., Ronald (Ronnie) Silvia was found murdered inside a camper he was renting at the Seahorse Campground in Big Pine Key, Florida.  The camper had been set on fire, presumably by the murderer, in an effort to cover up any evidence of the crime, according to detectives at the time.  Silvia’s murderer had gone unidentified since 2012 – until recently.

On August 12, The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, working in conjunction with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), reported that they resolved and closed this cold case homicide. The suspect in the 2012 Big Pine Key murder was identified when an FDLE Lab made a positive DNA match to Hugh Blanton, a 54-year-old transient.

Back in 2012, investigators determined that Silvia was deceased prior to the fire being set in his travel trailer – and that the cause of death was manual strangulation.

On June 10, 2020, Blanton was arrested for violation of probation by the Daytona Beach Police Department. FDLE obtained a DNA sample from Blanton; and the FDLE Lab confirmed that Blanton’s DNA compared to the DNA profile that was obtained from beneath the deceased victim’s fingernails.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant October 8. Blanton was located in Volusia County and taken into custody by the Daytona Beach Police Department. He was charged with one count of murder without premeditation homicide and one count arson, 1st Degree to a dwelling with people present.

Blanton has since been booked into the Volusia County Jail.

(Source: FDLE and Florida Keys Missing and Unsolved)
(Ronald Silvia, Image credit: Florida Keys Missing and Unsolved / Facebook)
(Hugh Blanton booking photo, Image credit: FDLE)

~  Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter