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Spring Hill Man Accused of Kidnapping, Murder

Manuel Jesus Vega | Hernando Sheriff | Arrests

The accused had been bonded out of jail and was due in court later this month for arraignment. on a domestic-violence-related charge when the murder happened, Hernando deputies say.

SPRING HILL – A Spring Hill man has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was found in a tractor-trailer behind a Dollar Tree, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

Viviana Sanchez, 53, was found dead Sunday (July 14) evening.

Manuel Jesus Vega, 50, of Spring Hill, has been charged with one count each of First Degree Murder and Kidnapping.

Deputies said Ms. Sanchez and Vega had been involved in ongoing domestic violence issues in Pasco County since at least May.  At that time, a Pasco County judge issued a no contact order between Vega and
Ms. Sanchez after Vega was arrested and charged with Domestic Battery by Strangulation (on Ms. Sanchez).

Vega had since bonded out of jail and was due in court on July 29 for arraignment. It is unknown if the two were still living together or having regular contact.

About 2 p.m. Sunday (July 14), Ms. Sanchez contacted a Hernando County taxi company, requesting a taxi in 30 minutes to an address on Fieldpoint Way in Spring Hill (Pasco County). Deputies said Ms. Sanchez told the taxi company that if she didn’t answer the door when they arrived, they should call the police. Rather than respond to the residence, a representative from the taxi company immediately contacted the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

Pasco deputies went to the residence on Fieldpoint Way and found that no one was there. They filed a missing person report.

About 8:44 p.m. Sunday, 9-1-1 operators at the Hernando sheriff’s office received a 9-1-1 transfer call from the Pasco sheriff’s office. The caller, a female with the taxi company, said she had received a text from Ms. Sanchez earlier in the day that said she was with Vega and was in fear for her life and to call the police. The text message also gave information about Vega’s work, over-the-road trucking, and that he would be
leaving Monday (July 15) morning on a trip.

The caller told emergency operators that Ms. Sanchez’s  family members were able to track her cell phone to the area of the Dollar Tree on County Line Road. The caller drove to that area and spotted Vega’s
tractor-trailer parked behind the Dollar Tree. The caller did not see anyone around the tractor-trailer, and she did not approach it. She immediately called 9-1-1.

Hernando deputies arrived and tried to contact someone in the tractor-trailer, which was running at the time. The driver – Vega – tried to back up but was unable to do so because he was blocked by patrol vehicles. The driver pulled the truck forward then stopped. Believing the female was inside the truck, and in danger, deputies said they tried to enter the truck but were unable to do so because all the doors were locked and
windows up.

Hernando County 9-1-1 operators received another transfer call from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. This time, the caller, a man, said he was inside the truck and deputies should not try to enter. The man said he wanted to wait for his mother to arrive, and he would surrender peacefully.

Pasco sheriff’s deputies arrived to help with the investigation.

Vega continued to communicate with deputies but refused to get out of the truck.

After a short time, Vega got out of the truck.

Deputies entered the cab of the truck and said they found Ms. Sanchez, who was dead.

Vega refused to speak with detectives about the incident or what led up to Ms. Sanchez’s death.

The case remains active.

Hernando Sheriff | Crime | Murder | Kidnapping | Arrests | Tampabay News | News Tampa

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