Authorities said the woman was found dead inside a Groveland home with a hammer nearby.
GROVELAND, Fla. — A Lake County well-being check turned into a homicide investigation April 19 after Groveland police found an 84-year-old woman dead in her home and arrested her 82-year-old husband.
Police said Vincent DiFraia faces a first-degree premeditated murder charge in the death of his wife, Evelyn Di Fraia. Officers went to the couple’s home on Way Point Drive after their daughter asked police to check on them because family had not heard from them for several days.
When officers arrived around 9 p.m., they found DiFraia in the living room. An arrest affidavit said he was sitting on a couch and appeared to be covered in blood. Police said he had cuts on both arms that appeared to be self-inflicted, and he was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Officers later entered a bedroom and found Evelyn Di Fraia dead in bed. Police said a hammer was beside her. Investigators said the room showed signs of a violent attack, including blood on the walls and ceiling. The medical examiner’s office reported that the woman appeared to have died more than 24 hours before police found her.
The affidavit said investigators found a large wound on the side of the woman’s head. Police also documented dried blood in a sink, a blood trail toward a bathroom and bloody items in a kitchen trash can. Authorities said those findings supported their belief that the woman died after being struck with a hammer.
Investigators also reviewed the couple’s recent history. Family members told police the two had frequent verbal arguments. They also said Evelyn Di Fraia’s health had been declining and that she had recently spent time in and out of the hospital. Police said they learned DiFraia had spoken about a possible suicide pact involving pills about a month before officers went to the home.
The case unsettled neighbors in the quiet Groveland community. Residents told local reporters the couple was known in the neighborhood but largely kept to themselves. One neighbor said the street filled with emergency vehicles Sunday night, while another said the death was heartbreaking because many longtime homeowners in the area are older residents.
DiFraia remained held in the Lake County jail after his arrest. Police said the case is still under investigation, with final autopsy results and forensic testing pending.
Author note: Last updated April 24, 2026.