ANNA MARIA – After being arrested on Aug. 18 for allegedly burglarizing the Anna Maria General Store earlier that morning, 24-year-old former Holmes Beach resident Leonardo “Leo” Tilelli was released from the Manatee County Jail on a $10,000 bond on Aug. 23.
On Aug. 19, Tilelli’s court-appointed attorney entered a not guilty plea in response to the third-degree felony charge of unarmed burglary of an unoccupied structure. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 3.
According to the probable cause affidavit submitted by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Anna Maria Unit, a male suspect entered the Anna Maria General Store at 503 Pine Ave. after breaking through the glass in one of the store’s doors. The suspect later exited in the same manner carrying several food and drink items. Aided by surveillance video, a BOLO (Be on the Lookout) warning was issued.
While on her way to work that morning, Holmes Beach Police Department School Resource Officer Christine LaBranche spotted a male who matched the BOLO description walking along Manatee Avenue, near Flamingo Drive. LaBranche detained Tilelli until additional officers arrived and transported him to the Manatee County Jail.
According to the MCSO affidavit, “The suspect was in possession of a green bag containing several food items. A post-Miranda interview was conducted with Leonardo, where he stated he went into the store to get food and drink as he was hungry. Leonardo did not wish to speak about the incident when asked how he had entered the store. The items Leonardo was carrying were taken back to the store. The owner (Brian Seymour) identified seven total food/drink items taken from his shelves totaling $42.45. The estimated cost to fix the double pane glass door is approximately $2,500.”
Island ties
Tilelli’s grandmother is a Holmes Beach resident. His mother, Christine Tilelli, is a former Holmes Beach resident who relocated to Colorado but returned in late February in hopes of locating Leo, who had been out of contact, missing for several months and possibly homeless.
According to Christine, Leo grew up in Holmes Beach, attended Anna Maria Elementary and then Manatee High School, where he played football, was popular with the other students and was named homecoming king. Christine said Leo earned a scholarship to the University of South Florida (USF), where he was a communications major and was also in pursuit of a minor in mechanical science because of his deep interest in and love of nature.
When speaking to The Sun on Aug. 21, Christine said the family was still waiting to bond Leo out of jail because they feared he might disappear again upon his release. Christine said she fears Leo may be suffering from mental illness and her hope is to get him evaluated and provided with the treatment and/or medication he may need.
When contacted by The Sun again after Leo’s Aug. 23 release, Christine said he was with his family.
When contacted the day of Leo’s release, Seymour said Christine, Leo’s grandmother and Leo’s younger brother came to the general store the previous day to speak with him.
“They apologized for Leo’s actions and offered to pay for the damages. At this time, we’re still collecting quotes to get the door repaired or replaced. I don’t know the total damage yet, but they said to reach out to them and they will make me and the store whole again,” Seymour said.
When asked if he would be in favor of the felony burglary charge being reduced after restitution is made, Seymour said, “I am in favor of that if he and his family get him the help he needs. He is a legal adult and they can’t force him to seek help, but I hope he does. If he doesn’t seek help, then no, I’m not in favor of that.”
Previous arrest
On April 30, 2024, while attending USF, Leo participated in an on-campus protest pertaining to the Israel/Palestine conflict, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.
After failing to disperse when ordered to do so by police, Leo allegedly fled on foot to avoid arrest, and while being apprehended, he allegedly attempted to strike the pursuing officer.
He was charged with resisting an officer with violence, a third-degree felony, and resisting an officer without violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. The misdemeanor charge was later dropped. The felony charge is pending.
At some point after that arrest, Leo left school and his family lost touch with him.
“Before all this happened, his heart was large. He was kind and he never met a person he wouldn’t help,” Christine said.
