Man Charged with First-Degree Murder After Bartlett Park Attack Victim Dies

A St. Petersburg resident is now charged with first-degree murder following the death of a man violently assaulted at Bartlett Park on July 6. D’Eauary Thurman, 49, identified as a transient, had initially been charged with attempted murder by the St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD).

Thurman's charges were upgraded after the victim, who had sustained injuries during the July 6 assault, later died. Thurman was additionally charged with robbery by the SPPD and is currently held without bond at Pinellas County Jail.

The attack occurred around 6:25 a.m. on July 6 at Bartlett Park in St. Petersburg. According to a police report, the victim was lying on a picnic table bench when Thurman allegedly began to "punch, kick and stomp" him. WFLA reported that the assault left the victim disfigured and with a serious head injury, as noted in the police report.

After the attack, authorities indicated Thurman took an item from the victim’s backpack and put it in his pocket. He then reportedly left the area on foot after casually filling a water bottle at a nearby fountain.

Thurman was arrested on a Tuesday. According to a police report, a witness positively identified Thurman as the suspect, and investigators also obtained surveillance video of the assault. The victim had been in critical condition at Bayfront Trauma ER before his death.

This Bartlett Park incident, occurring in an area where the overall crime index was 37% above the national average in 2026 per city data, underscores ongoing public safety concerns within St. Petersburg's parks. City records indicate that issues of homelessness and vagrancy have also been observed in and around the park, contributing to local resident safety concerns. The St. Petersburg Police Department has pledged increased patrols and community engagement in city parks to address such concerns.