Confusion over assets delays trial of Orlando man accused of killing wife in 2018

ORLANDO, Fla — There is more confusion about whether the Orlando man accused of murdering his wife is concealing money and other assets.

Prosecutors said David Tronnes killed his wife Shanti in their Delaney Park home in April 2018, and he still doesn't have an attorney.

Tronnes has had three sets of attorneys. He lost his last attorney, a public defender, about seven months ago after prosecutors said he was concealing assets.

He's supposedly been trying to hire an attorney since then and he finally has one he wants to hire, but so far that attorney hasn't been able to access his money.

Shuffling into court, a shackled and cuffed Tronnes sat next to Richard Zaleski, the man he wants to hire as his attorney.

But Zaleski says Tronnes’ money is tried up in probate involving the death of his wife. She has a young son from a prior marriage who also has rights to some of the assets.

Officials pointed out the home that's assessed at more than $600,000 was in a trust, in just his name and his mother's name, and there's an offer to buy it.

They believe those are assets Tronnes could use to hire an attorney. But if it can't be proven, and the attorney he's trying to hire can't access his money, it's possible the judge could appoint another public defender for Tronnes.

In a hearing set for next month, if they can’t resolve that issue in court, the judge said she will have a closed-door meeting with Tronnes to try to figure out what assets he has, to decide if he needs a public defender.

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