The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 37

http:tampjtrib.com THE TAMP TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8. 2000 flORIDAMETIO 3 Starts Wednesday Veteran's Day Ruskin truck driver acquitted in clerk's abduction, slaying Sale "111 30 OFF Micf oftoer separates. Seiection includes jockets. pants and skirts. In Ladies.

Petrtes and Women's. Sale 27.98 to 41.98 our everyday $39.97 to $59 97 30 OFF Men's famous maker fal cotections. Choose from woven and knit shirts, and casual pants. Sale 17.48 to 27.98 our everyday $24.97 to $39.97 Mangold's son said he was pleased for Smith's family. "We all miss her terribly," Henry Neuburger III said of his mother.

"It's a chapter in our life that we have to close." Mangold was abducted from the Kangaroo Fuel Stop in River-view in September 1989. Smith, who had prior convictions for aggravated assault and battery, was arrested last year. A sheriffs forensic expert reviewing cold cases used a new database to check a partial fingerprint found on the hood of Mangold's car. Smith was listed as a possible match and agreed to provide a blood sample. Prosecutors said his DNA matched the DNA of semen found on Mangold's blouse to the statistical exclusion of every other human.

Smith's first trial in May ended with the jury deadlocked 66. Despite the DNA evidence, both trials revolved largely around a composite sketch of the suspect A brother and sister, both teenagers, told deputies the man who abducted Mangold had a scruffy beard and shoulder-length hair. Smith is almost totally bald and, according to his lawyers, has been since before 1989. By GARY SPROTT of The Tampa Tribune TAMPA "Oh. Lordr Franklin Smith said, almost skipping across the courtroom looking for family members to hug and hug again.

Just moments before, a Hillsborough County jury had acquitted Smith, 54, of first-degree murder in the 1989 slaying of convenience store clerk Eileen Mangold. Smith could have faced the death penalty if convicted. "Ill be back to work sometime soon not guilty," Smith, a Ruskin truck driver, shouted into a cellular phone before seeking out his public defender for a two-handed high-five. "Our heart and sympathy go out to the victim's family," said Katherine Smith, standing near her husband. "They can be assured that an innocent man has been freed today." Mangold's son and daughter had already slipped quietly from the courtroom.

Their mother was 50 when she was beaten to death 11 years ago. "I came to peace with this a long time ago," said Cheryl Simpson, Mangold's daughter. "I'm a Christian justice will be done it's a higher court." At the first trial and again this past week. Assistant Public Defender Lyann Goudie showed jurors oversized copies of the sketch of the suspect and a 1991 photo of Smith to stress the differences. Neither eyewitness identified Smith as the man they saw.

Goudie attacked the state's claim that a fingerprint, hair and semen proved Smith's guilt She criticized the state's handling of physical evidence, and changes in the testimony of the eyewitnesses from the first trial to the second. Smith didn't take the stand at either trial Assistant State Attorney Jay Pruner, who prosecuted the case, declined to comment After the verdict a bailiff called the county jail to clear Smith's immediate release. A jail identity bracelet was snipped from his wrist before he and his family headed to a celebratory dinner. Smith will return to jail only to collect his belongings. Tve got to try to get my life back together," he said.

"It's going to be hard." Gary Sprott can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or com 30 OFF' Fashion and designer earrings. Sale 4.18 to 13.98 our everyday $5.97 to $19.97 Excluding Christines mow more great savings at 30 30 OFF Famous brand towels. A Sale 5.58 bam 30 off Ladies career collections 30 off Men's outerwear 30 off Men's cotton wrinkle free pants 30 Off Men's dress and casual pleated pants 30 Off Select luggage 30 Off Children's sets our everyday $7.97 4.18 hand our everyday $5.97 2.08 wash our everyday $2.97 Trucking company owner found dead Special 30-50 savings on selected items throughout the store! Sale valid on select Items. Entire stocks not Included. Styles wffl vary by store.

Savings off our everyday discount prices. Sale ends Sunday. 1 11200. By JOSE PATIN0 61R0NA of The Tampa Tribune GIBSONTON Less than two weeks before his 59th birthday, Paul Douglas Casteel was found dead early Tuesday morning at a recycling business, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office said. About 2 a.m., a truck driver was pulling out of North Star Recycling at 5220 Dover St, Gibsonton, when he saw Casteel's body lying near a fence inside the business.

Casteel died from blunt trauma to the upper torso, said Sgt Rod Reder, a sheriffs office spokesman. The sheriffs office wasn't disclosing any information about a weapon or motive for the killing. Casteel of 104 Edmondton Lane, Brandon, leased tractors and trailers to North Star Recycling, Reder said. Records show he owned a company named South Star Trucking based in Brandon. Tuesday afternoon, a North Star employee said the company was temporarily closed and wouldn't comment on the case.

Casteel's son said the family did not want to comment Anyone with information about the killing is asked to call the sheriff office at 247-8200 or 1-800-873-8477. Staff researchers Lyssa Oberkreser and Jody Habayeb contributed to this report. Jose Patlho Glrona covers the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and can be reached at (813) 657-4534 or lpatinotampatrib.com Fashion and Quality. Always at discount prices. Village Center In Carrollwood Village, 13210 North Dale Mabry Tampa (813) 264-0858 3916 Britton Plaza, Tampa (813)835-4766 Clearwater Palm Harbor St.

Petersburg Lakeland Sat. 10-9, Sun. 12-6 www.stelnmart.com 1-888-Stein Mart IfsGccdTolIr.cvj To subscribe to The Tampa Tribune, call (813) TRIBUNE (874-2863) in Hillsborough County or 1-800-282-5588. 3 c3 71 T)-rr- (SS) i D) fiW I i I (HP 0 0 0 PQ Oh I to 1 I A AWU i rii ,1 TiWT I ill 'VI JwiMn Eisai RII? Oil Elmi (It Gntseuml jftftt itr" rush uiu uif iiitvu ur in a ivimwu ft: aUTt Xi v- jit Cl, I "3. Thanlts for helping to support public and private schools in the Tampa Bay area.

Because of your support, 24,000 students were given the opportunity to learn about health, and to become better consumers through the Cigna Be Healthy, Be Fit program. For more information on this or other NIE school programs, 3 Free demos test drives. FREE coloring book for the kiddies. Metropolitan Ministries lte on any nay wiui idiiucu CUUU. I Benefits Metropolitan Ministries.

VTa Mn A Q00r mm a I call (813) 259-7764 in Hillsborough County or 1-800-527-2719. 1 off max. per person. VIMI'lM (No purchase necessary) mammm. j7 GAY) 50 vendor booths.

'I Oh 25 Florida State Fairgrounds (Parking fee charged by fairgrounds) Intersection of interstate 4 and US Hwy 301 (oust enter frost US Highway 301 Cigna A Business of Caring. tmotlotlon IfiSiK. ou. MiA'W Region 3 Sunday Ham 5pm Kids under 16 FREE www.frvta.ont Vi To subscribe to The Tampa Tribune, call (813) TRIBUNE It'S GOCd TO KnCW (874-2863) in Hillsborough County or 1-800-282-5588. I.