REMEMBER Audrey
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Audrey Petersen
61 YEARS OLD ·
Clearwater,
Florida
Audrey Elton Petersen was 61 years old and lived in Clearwater. Her family and community gathered for funeral services at Heritage United Methodist Church after her death.
Audrey was born March 31, 1962. She lived in Clearwater and was honored with a funeral service at Heritage United Methodist Church on February 17, 2024. Public reporting identifies her as having recently ended a long-term relationship before her death.
THE RECORD
On February 9, 2024, Audrey Petersen was fatally shot at her home in the Countryside area of Clearwater, Florida. According to Clearwater police, her former boyfriend, Francis Scoza, arrived around 8 p.m. and forced his way into the residence through the back door.
Audrey attempted to flee toward a neighbor's home for help. Investigators reported that Scoza shot and killed her. Scoza subsequently died by suicide.
RELATIONSHIP CONTEXT
Ex-boyfriend
Audrey Petersen had ended her relationship with Francis Scoza before her death. Following the separation, she experienced stalking and unwanted contact that led her to seek assistance from Clearwater police and the court system. According to reporting by the Tampa Bay Times, Audrey filed multiple police reports during the year preceding her homicide. Although no prior physical violence was reported, the documented history included nonphysical behaviors that raised concerns for her safety.
PATTERNS DOCUMENTED IN AVAILABLE RECORDS
These indicators reflect what could be established from available sources. Absence from this list does not establish that a behavior did not occur.
LEGAL / SYSTEM RESPONSE
Audrey contacted Clearwater police multiple times before her death, reporting concerns involving her former partner. She also sought a protective injunction shortly before the homicide, but temporary protection was denied and a hearing was scheduled.
A Tampa Bay Times investigation subsequently examined how Audrey's attempts to obtain protection exposed gaps in law-enforcement training and the protective-order process, particularly in cases involving stalking without documented physical violence.
Following Audrey's death, Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy initiated a departmental review and sought assistance from CASA Pinellas, a domestic violence service provider.
The department subsequently implemented specialized domestic violence training for all 263 patrol officers, including instruction on recognizing homicide risk factors, stalking, protective injunctions, and victim safety. CASA Pinellas legal professionals also began working from Clearwater Police Department headquarters several days a week to improve access to legal assistance.
In July 2024, the department revised its domestic violence policy handbook to clarify procedures and improve responses to victims. Additional training was provided to detectives and patrol officers during the summer.
SOURCES
INFORMATION LIMITATIONS
Available reporting documents Audrey's separation, stalking, repeated contact with law enforcement, and efforts to obtain court protection. Although these records establish prior nonphysical intimate partner abuse, the reporting does not document earlier physical assaults, strangulation, threats to kill, or firearm threats. These indicators remain unknown rather than absent.
TRANSPARENCY / RECORD NOTE
Audrey Petersen's homicide became the subject of investigative reporting examining law-enforcement responses to stalking and domestic violence. Before her death, Audrey had contacted Clearwater police multiple times and sought a protective injunction against her former partner. No physical assaults were reported before the homicide, but investigators identified a history of stalking and other concerning behavior.
Following her death, Clearwater Police conducted an internal review, expanded domestic violence training, revised departmental procedures, and established a partnership with CASA Pinellas to improve access to specialized advocacy and legal assistance.
REMEMBER Audrey.
Every statistic had a name. Every name had a life.
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