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Murder case interview yields wildlife charge in Florida

By Tamara El-Khoury, Times Staff Writer
In print: Wednesday, June 25, 2008

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PALM HARBOR — The investigation into the murder of Martin Weeks led to the arrest of his estranged wife in May. On Monday, authorities said, that same investigation led to a second arrest.

Linda Weeks was arrested first and charged with the second-degree murder of her estranged husband.

Monday's arrest was of the man who lived in the same Palm Harbor house as Linda Weeks at 1616 Indiana Ave. He is Glenn F. Rayburn, 44.

Rayburn is charged with killing an alligator.

Pinellas County sheriff's Detective Ed Judy interviewed Rayburn as part of the Weeks investigation.

Authorities did not disclose why Rayburn was questioned. But during his interview, Rayburn said that he had killed an alligator about 9 p.m. June 12, 2007. That was the night before Weeks' body was found.

Rayburn caught the alligator at a pond at Virginia Street and County Road 1. He lured the gator with bait before killing it and cutting off its tail. (Most of an alligator's meat is in its tail.) Detectives recovered the carcass, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Jim Bordner said.

Judy waited until the murder investigation was complete before charging Rayburn.

Rayburn was also held on California charges of violating his probation and driving while his license was suspended or revoked.

Rayburn's criminal record includes arrests on various drug and traffic offenses.

He could not be reached for comment.

Killing alligators is illegal without being a licensed trapper or obtaining a license during hunting season, which doesn't start until mid August, in limited areas, said Gary Morse, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Killing an alligator is a felony punishable by a $5,000 fine and or up to five years in prison, Morse said.

Tamara El-Khoury can be reached at (727) 445-4181 or tel-khoury@sptimes.com.