Couple arrested in armed Windermere burglary, one still sought

WINDERMERE – Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the armed burglary of a Windermere home and one remains at large.

The burglary, which took place around 2 a.m. August 20, was caught on video by the homeowner’s security system. The video depicts two men, one in possession of an assault rifle, smash in the front door to the residence before proceeding to steal $4,000 worth of electronic equipment in a matter of minutes.

The men can be seen running in and out of the home carrying various objects, including a 65-inch LG 4K television, a 17-inch Dell laptop and five computer monitors. 

John Fitzpatrick, 32, and Suzy Fitzpatrick, 25, are suspected of having been involved after still photographs captured from the video and published on various media outlets resulted in anonymous tips identifying John Fitzpatrick as the white male in the video.

Following the leads, Windermere and Winter Garden detectives went to a mobile repair shop on South Dillard Street owned by John and Suzy Fitzpatrick August 22 and interviewed Suzy Fitzpatrick.

According to an arrest warrant, Suzy Fitzpatrick denied the bearded white man in the video was her husband at first. She claimed “that can’t be my husband” and stated that at the time the video was taken she and her husband were at a swinger’s club in Eustis.

Further questioning later saw Suzy Fitzpatrick acknowledge the man was her husband, telling detectives that she and her husband were kidnapped at gunpoint by three guys as they were leaving their shop and forced to participate in the burglary.

“As you can see, I’m not on the video,” Suzy Fitzpatrick is quoted in the warrant. “I was in the car.”

After reviewing the security footage again on August 24, detectives determined John Fitzpatrick was familiar with the black male suspect depicted in the video, who goes by the street name “Goose,” because the black male called out to John Fitzpatrick as “Fitz” multiple times and John Fitzpatrick did not appear to under any sort of dress during the burglary.

Suzy Fitzpatrick was arrested August 28 by Winter Garden police at the mobile phone repair shop and John Fitzpatrick was arrested by the Gulfport Police  Department in Mississippi on August 29.

Police ask anyone with information related to the burglary or information helpful in identifying the black male suspect to call Detective John Allen at 407-909-5306 or email him at [email protected]. Alternatively, tips may be provided to CrimeLine at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477). 

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Contact Gabby Baquero at [email protected]