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Husband Sought In Belleair Woman's Death

News Channel 8 photo by CHRIS CONYER

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office detectives want to talk to Ryan M. Cataneo about his wife's death.

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 29, 2008

Updated: 11/29/2008 11:36 pm

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Ryan Cataneo

The death of a woman whose body was found inside a Belleair home has been ruled a homicide, and Pinellas County Sheriff's Office detectives are now looking for her husband, who is suspected of killing her.

The body of Deana M. Cataneo, 39, was found inside 7 Baybrook Place at 11:13 a.m. Friday. Detectives assigned to the sheriff's office Robbery/Homicide Unit initially investigated the death as suspicious, but now deputies say her husband, Ryan M. Cataneo, 40, killed her and they have obtained an arrest warrant for him.

He was last seen in Louisiana, they say.

The investigation began after Deana Cataneo's body was discovered by relatives at 7 Baybrook Place. Officers from the Belleair Police Department were called to the scene and subsequently turned the investigation over to the sheriff's office.

Ryan Cataneo was not at the residence when the victim's body was discovered, and detectives say he was last seen in Marrero, La., about 3 p.m. Tuesday. The investigation continues.

Ryan Cataneo's ex-sister-in-law Tama Arquette says Ryan could not "harm a fly," much less kill.
Arquette, whose sister Kristy Cataneo was married to Ryan for five years, says authorities are looking for the wrong man.

"He's a great guy," says Arquette, who lives in Kenosha, Wis. "I knew him for seven years. He is the wrong person. He would never lay a hand on a woman. He is a great guy who provides for his family and takes care of them. None of this makes sense."

Ryan Cataneo, she says, works for a service that provides rubber surfaces for playgrounds. Deana Cataneo owned a company called Coast to Coast Installers, according to state records. He and Kristy Cataneo have been divorced for about a year and have an 8-year-old daughter together, Arquette says.

"They still stay in contact," she says.

Kristy Cataneo "is in shock," Arquette says. "She is pretty shaken up. She had to do a lot of talking and get information she does not want to have."

Arquette says she hasn't talked to Ryan Cataneo since the divorce and does not know where he is.

Ryan Cataneo is described as a white with a thin build who is 6'0" tall and weighs about 190 pounds. He has short brown hair, brown eyes and is normally clean shaven.

Anyone with information about this investigation, or who knows the whereabouts of the suspect is asked to contact Detective John Spoor of the sheriff's office's Robbery/Homicide Unit at (727) 582-6200; to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.

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