Former 'Thundercats' writer was murdered, Zephyrhills police say

ZEPHYRHILLS — Authorities are now saying that Stephen Perry — the 56-year-old writer for the 1980s cartoon series Thundercats and SilverHawks who has been missing for nearly two weeks — was murdered.

Perry's van was found abandoned at a Tampa hotel May 16. Deputies found a severed body part nearby. Since that date, the Zephyrhills Police Department listed Perry as missing — but also the possible victim of a homicide.

Thursday, the Police Department announced Perry died of an "apparent homicide."

Lab results still are not back from evidence — including the body part — sent off last week to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to Capt. Robert McKinney of the Zephyrhills Police Department.

Perry's home on Eighth Avenue in Zephyrhills had been ransacked. His two roommates were first declared missing — then they were found Friday and arrested on unrelated charges.

James Davis, 45, is being held at the Pasco County jail on drug charges and failing to appear in court. His wife, Roxanne Davis, 49, is charged with violating her felony probation for burglary and grand theft.