Community Corner

'Known Drug Dealer' Arrested in Carrollwood Man's Death

Stephan Gruendel died in February 2012 of an overdose.

A “known drug dealer” has been arrested in the February death of Stephan Gruendel of Carrollwood.

According to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office media release, Ned Castel, 22, of 3622 Garrison St. in Tampa was charged with third-degree murder and delivery of a controlled substance in relation to Gruendel’s death.

Gruendel, 21, was found at his 4703 Kemble Court home Feb. 6 after deputies received a call about a non-responsive adult male in the home. They found Gruendel dead, the release said, and began investigating the case as an apparent overdose.

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“Detectives learned that the deceased Gruendel had purchased Oxycontin from a known drug dealer (Ned Castel) the night before his death,” the release said.

An autopsy later confirmed that Gruendel died from an overdose of Oxycontin.

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A warrant for Castel’s arrest was issued Aug. 1 and deputies were able to locate him in the area of 29th Street and Osborne Avenue. Castel was wearing a GPS monitor that was ordered following other previous narcotics-related charges, the release said.

Castel was booked into the Orient Road Jail without bond. His arrest history goes back several years, according to jail records, and includes a number of drug-related charges.


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