Plant City, FL: Police: Husband beats wife to death in Plant City

Updated: Monday, 19 Sep 2011, 5:21 AM EDT
Published : Sunday, 18 Sep 2011, 12:11 PM EDT

PLANT CITY - A long time employee of the Polk County Sheriff's Office died Sunday at the hands of her husband.

Beatrice Ann Dickey, the department's Executive Director of Business Affairs, suffered blunt force trauma to the upper body. She was airlifed by helicopter to Tampa General Hospital where she later died.

According to the Plant City Police Department, Lawrence Dickey turned himself in shortly after officers were dispatched to his home on Paddock Dr. The 44-year-old man is facing one count of premeditated first-degree murder. Dickey is being held without bond at the Hillsborough County Jail.

When authorities arrived at the Dickey residence just before 1 a.m., Beatrice, 44, was found unconscious in the master bedroom. She had worked for the Polk County Sheriff's Office since 1996. Dickey's arrest report states the weapon was a baseball bat.

"Bea was an incredibly special person to all of us at the Polk County Sheriff's Office. She was not just our colleague, she was our dear friend," said Sheriff Grady Judd. "Our Sheriff's Office family is hurting. This is a tremendous loss. In the most difficult of times, the best of friends come together to love and support each other. "

Dickey is survived by her mother, two sons, a step-daughter, a step-son and an agency family who loved her dearly.

She was hired by the Polk County Sheriff's Office on March 4, 1996 as Finance Supervisor. She was quickly promoted to Finance Administrator and eventually appointed as Executive Director of Business Affairs in January 2005.

She was the highest ranking civilian member at the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the third highest ranking executive staff member.

She led and managed all administrative aspects of the Sheriff's Office including finance, human resources, training, fleet operations, information technology and business services.

She has earned advanced academic degrees through the master's level. She was a Certified Public Accountant and a Florida Certified Public Manager.

She was a parishioner and volunteer at St. Clement Catholic Church; she belonged to and was treasurer for the Lakeland Kiwanis Club; served on the Board of Directors of the Citizens CPR; served on the Board of Directors of Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center; and was the volunteer Executive Director of Polk Sheriff's Charities, a large, multi-purpose charity that supports public safety causes.

She was a cancer survivor and energetically supported the fight against the disease.

She was recognized as the 2011 Professional Woman of Distinction from the National Association of Women Business Owners in Lakeland.