Cape man faces manslaughter charge in connection with brother’s death
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An out-of-state traffic stop has led to the arrest of a Cape Coral man sought as a person of interest in the death of his brother.
John William Tolbert, 58, was arrested in West Moreland County, Pennsylvania, officials said.
According to Cape Coral Police Department officials, Tolbert was pulled over for a traffic violation by Pennsylvania State Troopers and subsequently arrested on an outstanding CCPD warrant for manslaughter with a weapon.
His brother, Francis G. Tolbert, 71, died shortly after he was found bleeding from the back of his head in his northwest Cape Coral home on April 16 by Lee County EMS and police responding to a call that a person was in "cardiac arrest."
First responders found Francis Tolbert with a faint pulse, however he was declared deceased shortly thereafter, CCPD officials said at a press conference the day after the incident.
CCPD Chief Sizemore said officers found a shell casing near Tolbert while collecting evidence, leading them to suspect that foul play, not a medical event, could be the cause of his injury.
"Our Violent Crimes Detectives immediately launched an investigation due to the circumstances suggesting foul play," a CCPD social media post on Wednesday stated. "The medical examiner's office completed an autopsy and preliminary reports revealed a bullet fragment in Francis Tolbert's head. John Tolbert, Francis's brother, was named a Person of Interest in Francis's death."