Riverwalk neighbors to launch watch

LAKEWOOD RANCH — For the last 11 years, Jamie Grollman has felt she lived in the picture-perfect neighborhood.

The tight-knit community of Riverwalk Hammock in Lakewood Ranch has always been a safe and friendly place to live.

But the murder of longtime friend Ina Gross, who lived just down the street, has broken the hearts of Grollman and her neighbors and left them all shaken.

Gross, 78, was found dead in her garage Jan. 9. Hers is the first murder in Lakewood Ranch.

“We’ve been rocked to our very core in this community,” Grollman said.

In a newsletter Jan. 12 to Riverwalk Hammock residents, neighbor Paul Kraft offered to help start a neighborhood watch program in the community. Similarly, Grollman has since offered her home as a meeting place for what she calls a “Neighbor be Aware” campaign. A neighborhood meeting on the topic was slated for Wednesday, after the East County Observer went to press.

“In 11 years here, we’ve never had any situation here, except maybe someone keying a car,” Kraft said. “This has upset a lot of people. We’re not hearing from the (Manatee County) Sheriff’s Office what’s going on.”

Although the Sheriff’s Office has indicated it is following leads and processing evidence, details in the weeks following Gross’ death have been minimal.

Authorities have not released any new information since Jan. 12, when the Sheriff’s Office issued a press release stating detectives had found no evidence of forced entry into the home. They reported they believed the homicide had not occurred at random. Gross’ cause and time of death has yet to be released.

“We’re getting new information every day,” Public Information Officer Dave Bristow said. “There’s nothing new we’re going to release at this time. Certainly, we have theories. As evidence comes in, hopefully we’ll have enough to make an arrest.”

Kraft said he suggested starting a neighborhood watch in the community a few years ago, but the idea received limited interest and never “got off the ground.”

This time, however, he believes people will get involved.

After this week’s meeting, Kraft said he intends to solicit help from neighbors for whatever plan is deemed best.

“I know (Ina) would actually appreciate it,” Kraft said, noting Gross had expressed concerns about living alone and looked after. “Had this not happened, she would have joined. She would have responded immediately.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].