It appears the mystery into the April 4 death of Blountstown Middle School coach Tranum McLemore will remain just that - a mystery.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement released an investigative report this week, concluding that the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office initial findings of suicide were not conclusively determined. However, evidence at this time does not support findings of homicide either.
“The FDLE is closing its investigation of this matter at this time,” the report concluded. “However, in the event that new evidence is presented or becomes available at some point in the future, the FDLE will examine any such information and make a determination regarding the reopening of this investigation.”
As previously reported by The County Record, McLemore, 35, died following an alleged domestic dispute with his wife, Winter, at their home on Hoecake Road in Bristol. Winter fled to the Sheriff’s Office, saying she heard shots as she left. The LCSO immediately concluded the death was a suicide. However, family members question how a suicide could be determined so quickly when six shots were fired from McLemore’s Ruger 9MM semi-automatic pistol. He was pierced by bullets in three places - his shoulder, leg and head.
According to FDLE interviews, Winter McLemore passed a polygraph test, denying any involvement in her husband’s death.
Winter McLemore initially denied she was having an affair with anyone, stating her husband had been accusing her of an extramarital affair since January, but it was simply not true. However, the investigation revealed Winter McLemore had been receiving and sending a large number of texts to two different men. She then admitted to beginning a romantic relationship three months prior to her husband’s death that was still ongoing, as well as engaging in another relationship following his death. She exchanged over 500 texts with the second man the week prior to her husband’s death, but denied anything romantic occurred with that man prior to Tranum’s death. Both men were interviewed and eliminated as potential suspects.
It was noted both Tranum and Winter’s vehicles were sold shortly after his death. The vehicles were located, seized and examined, but nothing of evidentiary value was discovered.
It was learned Laurie Brandon, Winter’s sister, who was quickly on the scene the night of the incident, was called by the 10-year-old daughter of Tranum and Winter after she heard loud noises, peeked into her parents’ bedroom and saw a body on the floor.
Approximately $35,000 was found in the glove box of Tranum’s vehicle. Winter alleged he had cashed in a joint certificate of deposit without her knowledge and been withdrawing small amounts of cash from their bank accounts because “he knew we were getting a divorce.”
Medical Examiner Dr. Anthony Clark has ruled the manner of death “undetermined.” An associate medical examiner agreed with his findings.
“When I got to the scene, my job was to determine how he died,” Liberty County Sheriff Donnie Conyers remarked, following the release of the FDLE report, describing the situation as “very odd circumstances,” but stating he stands by his original report referring to Winter McLemore as a victim of domestic violence.
