Murdered: Lisa, Zachary and Savannah Freiberg
Filed under: Child Murder, Familicide, Murder, Stabbing, Torture
New information 5/14/08 - Edward Allen Covington has been charged with murder in the deaths of Lisa, Zachary and Heather Savannah Freiberg. Covington has admitted his involvement and provided graphic details of the murders. Please scroll to the bottom of the article for updates.
Lutz, FL - Monday, May 12, dawned bright and pretty in Hillsborough County, Florida. But at 1918 S. Mobile Villa Drive in the town of Lutz, something was very, very wrong. A neighbor opened his window a little after ten in the morning to hear a woman screaming “He’s dead! He’s dead!”
At 10:30, the 911 call went out. Shortly after that, three horribly mutilated bodies were found in the trailer house. They have been tentatively identified as Lisa Renee Freiberg, 26, and her children Zachary, 7, and Heather Savannah, 2. A man described only as “associated with the family” was found cowering, alive and mostly unharmed, in a bedroom closet. Even the family pet, a white German Shepherd Dog, had been killed, left in a puddle of blood.
Crime scene technicians are calling this scene one of the worst, one of the bloodiest, they’ve ever encountered. One source says that the victims were tortured - limbs and genitals cut off, faces mutilated, blood everywhere. So terrible was the damage that the bodies couldn’t be identified visually. Even the children’s ages weren’t clear due to the wounds inflicted on the corpses. Some reports say the children were “three or four”, some say “two and seven”, others just don’t know yet.
Lisa’s mother, Barbara Freiberg, is the likely woman who discovered her grandson Zachary killed just inside the entry to the house. Tim Kelly, the neighbor who heard her screams and went to help her, saw the little boy’s body as well. “Uh.. I don’t want to have to experience that again,” he told reporters at the scene.
The man in the closet is rumored to be Lisa’s new boyfriend. It’s said that he was led out of the house in handcuffs and taken to a hospital. He is still being questioned. One witness says there was no blood on the man at all. If true, then it makes one wonder if the man is just a coward, hiding in the closet in his boxer shorts, rather than the killer at such a bloody scene. But where are his clothes? Surely he wore something to the home. Authorities this morning aren’t saying much - it was initially reported that the man was not a suspect, but newer information leads me to think he may be held as a material witness or a person of interest for the time being. There are reports coming in that Barbara Freiberg went to check on Lisa because Lisa Freiberg had been beaten recently.
Edward Allen Covington is the name of the male occupant of Lisa Freiberg’s trailer. I believe he is the boyfriend who was found in the closet. Covington is a former Department of Corrections officer who is on probation for DUI and possession of a controlled substance. A probation officer visited the home on Saturday to see Covington and noted no problems in the probation report.
What about the other men in Lisa Freiberg’s life? Her children had to have a father or fathers. Where is he? Where are they? Did she owe money? Whatever happened, this crime was very personal, and one of intense rage. Motives like suspects are moving in shadows right now, early in the investigation. But someone knows what he - or she, or they - did to Lisa, Zachary and Savannah Freiberg. Someone is going to get caught.
As always, i will update this article as new information is released.
New information 5/13/08 -
Sheriff David Gee has now confirmed that the bodies found belong to Lisa, Zachary and Heather Savannah Freiberg. Authorities believe the three were killed on Mother’s Day. Sheriff Gee is not identifying the man in the closet except to say that he is “not a victim” in this case, and that he is Lisa Freiberg’s boyfriend. In other words, Edward Allen Covington is the closet guy.
Covington, who has been living with Freiberg since the last week of April, was taken to the hospital because he told officers he had “ingested an unknown substance”.
Sheriff Gee says that all three victims were mutilated, and at least one was decapitated. More than one weapon was reportedly used (my source says possible machete), and there are “no suspects on the loose”. Sounds like they think they have their guy.
Imp Thinks This Guy Did It (edited to add: and imp was right…)
UPDATE 5/14/08 - Edward Allen Covington has been charged this afternoon with three first-degree counts of murder in the deaths of Lisa Freiberg, Zachary Freiberg and Heather Savannah Freiberg. Covington has also been charged with three counts of abuse of a corpse, one count of animal cruelty and a probation violation.
Covington has admitted his involvement in the murders, going so far as to provide officers with details described as “extreme” and “graphic”. He tested positive for cocaine at the hospital, and told officers he sold his motorcycle for crack last week. Covington has not provided a motive for the killings, and the medical examiner’s office is still working on the cause of death for the victims, saying only that the victims died by multiple means and that more than one weapon was used.
Updates as I get them, of course.
I’m dying inside thinking of those poor babies left alone with this monster. So the scenario, we think, is she came in from working on Saturday night and probably discovered dead, mutilated children? *stomach hurts*
I think this is his myspace page.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=209591674
You have to wonder if things would have been different if he had been prosecuted. It is astounding to me that he wasn’t and someone definitely has some ’splainin’ to do. My guess is he was in a meth frenzy and did all this while under the influence. I think that this is exactly what happened in the current case as well.
I don’t know how many have seen or remember this, but awhile back there was a story of a couple that did meth and killed the woman’s boyfriend, then decapitated him, cut off his penis and stuck it in his mouth, then took photos. They got caught because they brought the photos to a store to be developed and police were notified when the images appeared. The gruesome photos have been posted on various places on the internet.
When I read this story about this poor family, that story immediately came to mind. People on meth do freakin’ crazy things and my money is on the boyfriend being a meth addict.
I’ll bet she had no idea the cat event even happened. Damned crazy murdering bastard.
If I am ever in need of a new man I will not go lookin’ on the inter-webs.
Just sayin’
That could have been the initial disturbance before the “loud thump”. If I had done this and had planned on killing her, too, I would have been waiting at the door to grab her as soon as she stepped within reach to make sure she couldn’t call for help.
What you say makes sense, but if I saw my child like that, I’d probably scream, but I know I would RUN TO HIM not back outside, never aware of my surroundings. And, if I had saw my son like that, my next thought would have been to find my other child. I can totally see her freaking over the little boy and running to him and then looking for her other child - before running away or thinking to call 911. I honestly believe that I would have either been holding the first child I found or I would be running around crazy, looking for my second child. Calling for help would not have entered my mind within the first couple of minutes and if he was waiting on her to get home, she probably never saw him coming.
And further on that, until its proven the children were killed first - (that was just my therory about the children being harmed first, in my 9 point scenario), the little boy could have been trying to get out of the door during the other murders and that just happens to be where this POS caught him.
Imp, do you or anyone else have any type of time line or time of deaths. I suppose its too early in the investigation for that type of information, but I do think it will be key.
At first, I thought he was the biggest coward known to mankind - but I’m almost sure he’s the guilty party. If he had got his clothes back on and was hiding - maybe. The boxers just ruined the story.
This man had time to plan and I just think, in my gut, he was waiting for her and she never had a chance to call out for help, much less dial 911.
Barbara, you think right.
http://www.myspace.com/eddiecovington
I have late Sunday afternoon to late Sunday evening as an informal time frame. I can’t get closer than that yet.
If you think that’ll protect you, more power to you.
You could just as easily meet a complete and total sociopathic, psychotic killer at a book store or someplace wholesome like that.
PLUS I met my wonderful boyfriend on the internets, and he’d never hurt a fly, let alone mutilate a family.
Thanks, that is what I was getting, but your info is always better than mine.
The part of him telling police that “he had ingested an unknown something” - so the bastard did not tell the police that he hid during the attacks because he was a chickenshit.
So, why in the blue hell, did LE let him go the first time? He didn’t have a believable story that even pertained to the crime. He was just hiding under clothes because of something he ingested, since the evening before - bullshit.
LE is lucky they even have him now. He should have been held on suspicion of murder, for the 48 hrs until they could get their shit together to formally charge him. If they had let me walk away the first time, they wouldn’t have picked me up the second time. Just sayin’……………….
Wait, before I rant about LE, I know it said he was not initially a suspect, but did it say they ever actually let him walk out of the police department? Was ever released and then picked back up? or Did LE just keep a hold of him after his hospital trip? Still, even if they didn’t let him go, WHY did they not think he was a suspect? Damn, I hope that bunch never has to investigate my murder? Well, really, I hope not to be murdered but you know what I mean.
Wow. My thoughts are with the family of the deceased.
The latest info I have on custody is that Covington was taken to the hospital and questioned there. Sheriff Gee now says that he is being held at the hospital “under guard”.
I think he’s playing the “I was so high I don’t know what happened” card.
New info: The man (presumably Covington) was found under a pile of clothes in the closet.
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=fbc0b976-f72a-4ad5-bf75-59142cf3772a
He mutilated cats???? OMG that poor family. I don’t know if he did it but he is one sick fuck….
“Baum said she heard a woman yell “a mad yell.” Baum then heard thuds like, “furniture being thrown across the room.”
“It was the worst thing I heard in my life,” Baum said.
She said she looked at her neighbor’s home but saw nothing unusual.”
why did no one call for help??? for god’s sake, what is wrong with people? You know kids live there, and you can hear that and do nothing??? shame on you lady, shame on anyone can be so damn flippant and unconcerned
Did the dumbshit think the cops weren’t going to know the pile was breathing?
I met my SO on a radio date-line. 12 years later we are all still alive.
If I did meet a dude on the net I would do a background check tho.
And another fucking thing. This guy “According to the police report, Covington once worked as a probation officer for the Department of Corrections.” Who the fuck hires these people???? They give any psycho power over the average citizen? Holy fucking hell
I dont want to bash the poor dead woman, but this is another case of mommy’s boyfriend being the most dangerous thing that can happen to a child.
Hell, with his background as a probation officer, she probably felt safe. And, if they never prosecuted him over the cats, would a background check have revealed anything? I suppose he could have been in trouble for other minor things - but not mutilating animals. GIANT RED FLAG - that couldn’t be found due to the lack of prosecution, if she had done a background check.
Once again, let me ask a question - Do background checks only show convictions or cases that actually went to trial, no matter the outcome? Or will it show, “so and so was arrested for this but released” or “so and so was suspected but never charged”? I’ve never done a background on anyone, had several ran on me because of jobs I’ve applied for, but not the other way around so I can’t honestly say what a background check will or will not show. Someone update the pooh on this subject, pretty please.
so mutilating cats was the warm up for mutilating children…..someone torturing animals and then moving to people is not a unique situation. Where the fuck was the police department when the cat killings happened? If it had been pursued, maybe the girlfriend would have gotten a heads up about the fucking psycho before he decided to off her and her family. Blech…my stomach hurts over this one….
Pooh, you are absolutely right, of course. If I came home and saw my daughter like that, I’d run right to her. I guess I was thinking he met the mom at the door with a crazy look and a knife or something. Hell, I don’t know. The whole thing is just so unbelievable. Those poor babies.
Honey, no one gets involved anymore. When my crazy psyco ex tore my front door and frame off it’s hindges and dragged me down the stairs and broke my nose, wrist a bunch of ribs and fractured my skull, the neighbors didn’t do a thing and I lived in townhouse with people all around me!! If he hadn’t been stupid enough and high and drunk enough to call me and tell me he was on his way, i’d be dead right now. The police got there about a minute and a half after he did. He caused all that damage in a minute!! The police told me I was the only call. No one cares anymore. I hope this sick fuck gets the death penalty, but not the esay needle!!
OH wow! i met this guy before. I was living in brandon which is right by zephyrhills. He’s a biker guy. This disturbs me >_<
ohh and i didn’t get a good vibe from him when i met him.
Most evil news story of the year so far. I am ill. Imp, a little unsolicitied advice — you’ve done awesome work on this. Get away from it for a while, now. I think you know I speak from experience.
Thanks, Indrid. I know you do know of which you speak, so I will take your sage advice and play at other things tonight
Interesting, though - while I was nosing around in court records, it turns out that Lisa’s parents filed for temporary custody of her child (apparently Zachary) in 2002 and got it for awhile. There’s also a domestic abuse case between her and an Albert Courtney from 2002-2003, and a few animal infractions for her dogs - but nothing else.
Yeah, I had a number of other articles to put up today, but I just didn’t want to bury this one yet.
Chicken bastards aways go after cats. They put up just enough fight to make an impotent little wannabe think he’s a big tough guy.
So he moved up from cats to children? What an SOB. I guess the boyfriends in prison will drag to their rondez-vous-of-love by that hound dog weird ear.
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=80290
It looks like he may have had other charges against him in the past (including DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!!!)…..
Im not surprised. Usually there are many many signs of someone’s nature before something like this happens. Im not going to pass judgement on the poor deceased woman who isnt around to defend herself, but I have a feeling that she must have known something of his violent tendencies and/or drug use.
“The man’s father and neighbors told reporters Freiberg’s boyfriend is Edward Covington, a man known to Tampa Police for killing his ex-wife’s cats in 2005.”
Hmmm, killed the ex-wife’s cats. Revenge for leaving him, I’m sure. Obviously a jealous, dangerous man.
Eww, check out one of the people who posts on his Myspace, named Kat. Her page is a freaking porn site practically. My son happened to be next to me when I clicked on it, I almost died! I’m not a prude or anything, but I dont think that stuff should be allowed on myspace.
As far as I know it isn’t allowed on Myspace. You are not supposed to post offensive or pornographic material. EWWWWWW…
This story is sick! I pray for that poor family this is not something anyone should ever have to endure.
I bet he was high on something and thought something was after him and hid in the closet and passed out. I bet that he didn’t clean anything but was just passed out in the closet.
I am wondering….with his past of mutilating animals, would the parole officer say something to the mom? You would think that if he saw the kids and the pets there he would pull her to the side or something and ask if she knew what he was on probation for.
One interesting update - I have been told that the murders may actually have taken place as early as late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
That doesn’t totally jive with witness statements of hearing noises on Sunday evening, but my source says that possibly the scream heard on Sunday was the killer throwing a temper tantrum, not the victims. The time of death on the bodies seems to indicate an earlier timeline than Sunday night for the murders.
Thanks, Imp. It will be interesting to get exact times.
Also, I thought one of the witness stated she saw Lisa returning home around 5 on Sunday evening and heard shouting shortly after she returned home, then the load thump, and nothing more after that. I’m sure I read that in one of the links posted on the first page of comments. I’ll go look in a bit - got to do some work at my job. I just had to check in right quick.
New article:
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/14/na-trouble-followed-victims-boyfriend/
OK, THIS IS IT. i CANT TAKE ANYMORE. NOW IM PISSED:
“Covington, 35, is a former officer with the Florida Department of Corrections. He worked for the department from May 1996 to January 2006 in Hillsborough and Hardee counties.
He continued to work for the department after the Baker Act episode, corrections department spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said. Before Covington returned to work, he was referred to the employee assistance program and deemed fit for correctional officer duty by an independent professional.
“The department took appropriate steps with this employee,” Plessinger said.”
Can someone help me understand this???? Or at least agree with me on how fucked up this is?????????? This guy murdered and mutilated three cats, and you think he’s fit to be a correctional officer??? Has everyone gone fucking mad?????
Another little jewel of information:
“According to his Department of Corrections personnel file, Covington was accused of verbally and physically abusing an inmate in 1999, but no action was taken. In 2002, his file states he shoved and knocked over an inmate and was suspended. He was cited for excessive absenteeism in 2005, and resigned.”
And another one:
“According to a report by the Department of Children & Families released Tuesday, Freiberg would leave the children home alone at night while she drove around her neighborhood looking for her boyfriend at the time, Tom Fish. Fish was “badly on crack,” the caseworker’s report said, and Freiberg “sells her food stamps to support the boyfriend’s habit.”
This made me cry:
So in Zachary’s memory, the kids built two sand castles, enhanced by sticks and shells.
“The girls were making it just so, so it was right,” Arias said.
Children wrote “Zachary” in the sand, and watched waves wash it away.
“They came up and hugged me from time to time, saying they were sad,” Arias said.
Pooh, I saw that too.
Now what that means, I don’t know. The information I have says that the time of death on the kids, at least, may have been earlier. But I don’t think we’re going to have all the facts from the ME for awhile yet.
I notice the newest articles are saying Sunday morning now too. Maybe the witness was wrong, or the press is.
http://snap.tbo.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=325876
Pictures from outside the home
And you do have to admire the thoroughness of a pos like this that would even kill the family dog. /sarcasm off
I’m inclined to believe she was misquoted. It will be interesting to see which version turns out to be truth. At first thought, one would think the witness would be sure about Sunday because of it being mother’s day. Holidays or any event tend to be good time markers and usually stick out in a persons mind.
Ok, we know he mutilated cats, had complaints filed against him for excessive force, but have there been drug charges? I’m asking because as Imp posted earlier, he’s probably going with “I was so high I don’t have a clue what went on”.
I guess I’m just stumbling to find out if he offered any type of explanation for what had occured at the home? All he said (that I personally have read) was he was hiding because he ingested an unknown substance - not “I was scared for my life” or “I didn’t hear anything”. If he referenced the crime in anyway, I missed it. Surely his plan is not to say Pine-Sol or something made him do it?
I suppose it is possible that he truly is mentally defective, obviously, duh - the point I was gonna make before I realized just how stupid that looked in type - if a person can hide in the closet for hours and come out and only comment on why he was hiding not what happened and for that matter, there are no reports of him freaking out to the scene - then perhaps he has honestly diconnected himself from reality and may not be mentally accountable. Now don’t get me wrong, he’s accountable five ways from Sunday. I’m just thinking, it would take a hell of a “poker face” not to have any reaction at all to a scene like this one is described to be, even if you were the killer. Hell, if I was that full of hate, I’d at least admire my “handy work” as I passed by it. Have I just totally missed any explanation he offered other than the “ingested an unknown substance”?
Now that just sucks! He deserves to die. He will never be a productive member of society. He NEEDS to die. For once, if what I stated above about his reactions and explanations are correct, then I could see an insanity plea and would probably buy it. Like I said, it would take one hell of a poker face not to have any reaction - this cat is probably a truly insane person and not just playing the card. Insane or not, we know what he’s capable of - he needs to be put down. Rabid dogs don’t choose to get rabies, but they have to be put down for everyone else’s safety - not because of fault. When someone is so dangerously defective, the rabid dog therory should apply for everyone else’s well being.
Update:
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/14/sheriff-announce-update-triple-slaying/?news-metro#comments
TAMPA - Edward Allen Covington has been charged with three first-degree counts of murder following the slayings of his girlfriend and her children at their Lutz home, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jose Docobo said at a press conference this afternoon.
He also faces three counts of abuse of dead human bodies, one count of cruelty to animals and one count of violating probation.
It was a substantial amount of physical evidence linking Mr. Covington to the three deaths, as well as an admission on his part regarding his involvement in the deaths of the three victims,” Docobo said. “No, he did not give a specific reason. No.
And more. From here you can view the case notes
http://www.baynews9.com/images/news/2008/5/14/Covingtoncasenotes.pdf
or a history of his work violations.
http://www.baynews9.com/images/news/2008/5/14/Covingtonworkhistory.pdf
http://www.baynews9.com/Hillsborough.html
Article updated with charge information.
Anne, thanks for the .pdf link to the case notes!
Here to serve the Demon and His Imp, ma’am (tugs forelock)
Last update for me-
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/14/sheriff-announce-update-triple-slaying/
TAMPA - Edward Allen Covington told deputies he choked, beat, stabbed, dismembered and mutilated his girlfriend and her two children this weekend, Hillsborough County deputies say.
and
Covington tested positive at the hospital for cocaine Monday, an arrest report states. He also told detectives he sold his motorcycle last week for crack cocaine.
and
The crimes appear to have been committed between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday and Covington appears to have stayed in the home, the arrest report states.
Covington didn’t tell deputies what triggered the attack, Docobo said.
“It appears it was more spontaneous than any type of plan,” he said.
Covington had marks on his body, but investigators aren’t sure whether they are the result of the victims fighting back.
“He provided graphic details in what he did to the bodies, what he did to the victims,” Docobo said. “We’ll leave it at that.
On the one hand, I’m really glad my sources have been right on the money on this case.
On the other hand, it’s no comfort in the face of what those poor babies went through. What a horrible death they suffered at the hands of this monster.
i can pretty much goddamn guarantee that dog was killed because he did or would defend his family. this whole thing sucks & most humans suck the big fat hairy wet one.
Why was she even allowed to keep her children?
Imp, have you heard anything about this as a reason why he wasn’t charged with animal cruelty?
Someone needs to press Sheriff Gee about HIS role in this horrible crime… his complicity let the killer remain free after he was clearly identified as a threat to public safety two years ago.
Why do you think the shabby excuse for law enforcement in Hillsborough country delayed details today - still refusing to name him a suspect… while they build a story to disassociate themselves from finger pointing?
Demand the Sheriff detail how he pressured investigators (at the urging of daddy Deputy Ronnie Covington) to NOT charge the maniac with animal cruelty in 2005. Collaborating comments available from the humane officers thwarted on this case! And this nut case had even worked as a corrections officer!?!?!
I found it here:
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/13/na-mom-2-children-found-dead-in-lutz-home-they-did/?news-metro
(don’t know if the link worked)
I am just wondering if any of this is true? Is Eddie’s daddy a deputy?
The thing that gave the boyfriend away, to me, was the locked door. That stood out to me from the first article I read. Psycho killers are rarely polite enough to lock up after themselves when they leave. And I know he was high, but surely the boyfriend wouldn’t venture over and around the mutilated bodies of his family to lock the door after the killer left, then climb back into the closet to hide.
I have a friend who was in a relationship with a crack addict. I’m eternally grateful that she got away from him before something like this happened to her. In the words of Rick James, “cocaine is a hell of a drug!”
(Oh, and I’m new, so hi everyone.)