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Boyfriend charged with first-degree murder in Dunedin man's death

 
David G. Elsey, 50, was found dead at home Saturday at 1658 Summit Way in Dunedin. His body bore signs of trauma.
David G. Elsey, 50, was found dead at home Saturday at 1658 Summit Way in Dunedin. His body bore signs of trauma.
Published June 8, 2014

DUNEDIN — David Elsey seemed excited about his new relationship.

Elsey, 50, met 26-year-old Arthur M. DeCarvalho online, and DeCarvalho had been staying for the last month or so at Elsey's well-kept home in the leafy Amberlea subdivision, said Patrick Martin, a next-door neighbor.

"He said their relationship was going great," Martin said. "He said, 'This is the one. We're on the same page.' "

On Saturday, Pinellas County sheriff's detectives charged DeCarvalho with Elsey's murder after finding his body inside the house at 1658 Summit Way.

During a routine traffic stop in Clearwater Beach early Saturday, DeCarvalho made "concerning remarks" to a Clearwater police officer about the need to check on Elsey at his home, said sheriff's spokeswoman Cristen Rensel.

Sheriff's deputies knocked on Elsey's door about 5 a.m. and got no response. They entered the house and found the body bearing evidence of blunt upper body trauma, Rensel said.

No other details, including a possible motive, were released Saturday. DeCarvalho is charged with first-degree murder and was being held without bail at the Pinellas County Jail.

Elsey bought the house in 2007, property records show. According to his Facebook and LinkedIn profiles, he graduated from high school in Rialto, Calif., and worked as a staffing manager for the Nielsen Co. He was a former regional chapter leader for the company's Pride resource group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees. He had Pomeranians and liked to go boating.

Neighbors said he was friendly and quiet.

"I've never seen him lose his temper," said Chris Magnotta, Elsey's other next-door neighbor.

Martin said DeCarvalho was quiet, too. He spoke with a drawl and said he was from Kentucky.

None of the neighbors noticed any tension between the pair. In the past two weeks, they were seen working together in the yard, planting flowers and shrubs.

Times news researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Tony Marrero can be reached at tmarrero@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8779. Follow @tmarrerotimes on Twitter.