Man’s body discovered near canal in northwest; Authorities call possible suicide

by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/23/09

Police discovered the body of 71-year-old Robert Dean Murray, who they say likely committed suicide, by a canal in northwest Cape Coral Wednesday morning.

The body was found northeast of the intersection of Diplomat Parkway and Burnt Store Road at about 9:01 a.m., after a 911 call alerted police to the presence of a body, according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.

Preliminary investigations suggest Murray committed suicide, though police are awaiting the medical examiner's report for confirmation, she said.

Le Beery, a friend of the family, said Murray and his wife, Vivian, live in Matlacha and are well-known for a nursery they own there, Treehouse Nursery.

She said the couple stop in to her restaurant, Le's Oriental Cuisine, daily.

"They're really nice people," Beery said. "It's a sad time."

She said she has not asked Murray's family about his death because she feels it is not her place.

A couple who lives across Burnt Store Road from where the body was found, Robert and Linda Denman, said the area is mostly quiet, and that it is common for people who live outside the area to fish off nearby waterways.

"It's usually pretty quiet at night," Robert said.

Linda said sound travels well in the mostly wide-open area, and the couple's pooch Baby is usually sensitive to strange sounds.

"I never heard anything," she said.

The Denmans, who have lived at their home for about four years, said they found the Wednesday morning incident surprising.

Barron said additional details surrounding Murray's death would be released by the Cape Coral Police Department as they became available.