St. Petersburg man is charged with ex-wife’s killing

ST. PETERSBURG — After a sudden disappearance and a month-long search, police have arrested George Morariu on charges that he killed his former wife, Andelka Morariu.

The arrest happened Friday, St. Petersburg Police said. Morariu, 60, is charged with second degree murder.

According to the police report, a family member reported Andelka Morariu, 62, missing on March 2 after she did not show up for work. Court records show the two were divorced in 2018.

When police spoke to George Morariu, he told them his former wife walked out of their home in the Gateway neighborhood on Feb. 28 on and did not return.

But video surveillance, while showing Andelka Morariu had entered the home, did not show her leaving. That surveillance also showed George Morariu removing a large object from the home and placing into the trunk of his car.

A search of the home and two vehicles turned up biological evidence that linked to Andelka Morariu.

On April 3, the medical examiner issued a death certificate for Andelka Morariu after determining she was the victim of a homicide ‘by unspecified means,’ police said.

George Morariu was booked at 9:37 p.m. in the Pinellas County Jail, where he was being held Saturday with no bond.

The investigation is still active. Anyone with information about the couple is urged to call (727) 893-7780.