Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Robbery/Homicide Unit

Bryan Les Merriam (Victim - Deceased)
DOB: 10/8/1970
Address: 610 Timber Way Circle West, Oldsmar

Ramon Chalas Hernandez (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 6/25/1972
Address: 712 Shore Drive East, Oldsmar
Charge: Murder in the First Degree

PINELLAS COUNTY – Detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit are conducting a homicide investigation in Oldsmar.

On November 18, 2022 at approximately 2:30 p.m., deputies responded to 610 Timber Bay Circle West in Oldsmar after reports of a man getting beaten with a baseball bat. When deputies arrived on scene they discovered the victim, later identified as 52-year-old Bryan Merriam, laying face down on the ground suffering from apparent head trauma. Merriam was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives learned 50-year-old Ramon Hernandez arrived at Merriam’s residence and exited his vehicle with a metal baseball bat. Hernandez then approached Merriam, looking for his girlfriend who he believed was hiding there. Detectives say Hernandez struck Merriam in the back of the head with the bat. After Merriam fell to the ground, Hernandez proceeded to strike Merriam several more times with the bat before fleeing the scene.

Approximately an hour later, Hernandez turned himself in to deputies at the Pinellas County Justice Center located at 14250 49^th Street North and was taken into custody. Detectives interviewed Hernandez, who admitted to striking Merriam the first time out of self-defense, and multiple times after that out of anger. Hernandez sustained no injuries.

Hernandez was charged with Murder in the First Degree and transported to the Pinellas County Jail.

Next of kin has been notified.

The investigation continues.