DEBARY -- With all signs pointing to the victim's boyfriend as the killer, Volusia County Sheriff's investigators have obtained a warrant charging 50-year-old Robert Deo with 1st-degree murder, Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said tonight.
The Sheriff's Office's Major Case Unit has been investigating the homicide since Wednesday's discovery of Christina Barber's body inside her DeBary home. But so far,
investigators have been unable to locate Deo.
Deputies were dispatched to Barber's home on Parkview Heights Boulevard early Wednesday afternoon after the Sheriff's Office received a call from a co-worker who was concerned because the victim failed to show up at work.
Deputies responded to Barber's house and found the victim dead inside. Deo and his blue, 2008 4-door Nissan were gone. The Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy Friday morning, concluding that Barber's death was the result of a homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time.
The Sheriff's Office had previously called Deo a person of interest in the investigation, saying they wanted to question him to see what
information he could provide. However, based on additional evidence gathered in the case, Sheriff's investigators presented their findings earlier tonight to Circuit Court Judge Raul Zambrano.
The judge issued the warrant ordering Deo to be taken into custody and held without bond.
Deo, who should be considered armed and dangerous, is about 5 feet 9 and has brown hair. His vehicle has a Florida tag, U709DM.
Anyone with information regarding Deo's whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers toll-free at (888) 277-TIPS. All callers to
Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous. Tipsters also can provide information anonymously by texting "TIP231 plus the message" to CRIMES. Anyone providing information to Crime Stoppers that results in an arrest will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.