Several charged in Fountain murder - update

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen announced the arrest of six individuals in connection to an attempted robbery and homicide at Sylvia’s Grocery at 18441 Hwy. 231 in Fountain.

Thursday night, November 13, 2008, the owner of Sylvia’s Grocery, Vishnukumar "Vish" Patel was found shot behind the store. BCSO deputies and investigators responded. Patel was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe the incident began as an attempted robbery in which Mr. Patel struggled, and as a result, was shot and killed.

Security video at the grocery store captured the image of a subject wearing a hooded sweatshirt coming out of the darkness, headed behind the store, and then reappearing, running away. The man captured on camera matched the description of a subject that witnesses at the store at the time of the murder described to investigators.

Information developed during the investigation led investigators to Nicholas Tyrone Lee of Altha, Florida. Lee was also a suspect in a recent burglary in Calhoun County in which several firearms had been stolen. Contact was made with Calhoun County Sheriff David Tatum who assisted in the investigation. At about 2:30 am BCSO and CCSO investigators went to a residence on Hwy 274 in Calhoun County and found Lee and Amy Beth Cucco. Statements gathered during the investigation revealed that Cucco and Lee had stated prior to the murder that they intended to rob Patel. Upon questioning, Lee and Cucco admitted to their involvement in the murder. They also revealed that Joshua Robert Sourbeck, also of Altha, had driven them to Sylvia’s Grocery where they had attempted to rob Patel, and then shot him after he struggled.

The firearm used to kill Patel was confirmed to be one of several stolen in Calhoun County in a recent burglary. Lee and Cucco did not have the firearm used to shoot Patel when authorities found them, but stated they been assisted by Sourbeck after the incident and driven by him to Paul Minton Wynn III of Fountain after the murder to ask him to purchase the gun. Wynn had declined but offered to take the gun to a Joseph Primus Gainer in Southport to exchange it for marijuana.

Gainer traded about $250 dollars worth of marijuana in exchange for the gun used to kill Patel. Gainer is a registered Felon and Sex Offender and currently on DOC supervision. BCSO investigators went to Gainer’s home and found him and Sarah Lynn Hill at the residence. A search warrant was obtained and Gainer’s home was searched and the firearm and Marijuana was found.

All six have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Vish Patel:

Nicholas Tyrone Lee, DOB 8/23/89, of PO Box 244, Altha, Florida, on charges of Open Count of Murder, Armed Robbery with a Firearm, and Possession of Marijuana more than 20 grams.

Amy Beth Cucco, DOB 6/1/84, of 23845, NW Shelton Blvd, Altha, Florida, on charges of Principle to Armed Robbery with a Firearm and an Open Count of Murder.

Joshua Robert Sourbeck, DOB 8/29/88, of 4656 NW Hwy 274, Altha, Florida, on charges of Accessory After the Fact to Armed Robbery with a Firearm and Accessory After the Fact to Murder.

Paul Minton Wynn, III, DOB 12/1/77, of PO Box 563, Fountain, Florida, on charges of Dealing in Stolen Property and Principle to Sale of Marijuana.

Joseph Primus Gainer, DOB 9/19/81, of 2203 McCormick Road, Southport, Florida. He is charged with Dealing in Stolen Property, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of Marijuana With Intent to Distribute, Sale of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Violation of Probation.

Sarah Lynn Hill, DOB 3/26/88, of 2203 McCormick Road, Southport, Florida, on charges of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

" I feel this is just one example of the excellent investigative work done every day at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, " Sheriff McKeithen said. " Any time there is an arrest within hours of a homicide of the individuals responsible not only for the murder, but also of those who assisted, and those that helped dispose of the firearm, there is cause to say this is a job well done."