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Former NFL Player from St. Thomas Killed in Florida

April 29, 2008 — A V.I. native and former pro football player, Ivan Orsen Caesar, was shot to death in his Orlanda, Fla., apartment in the early hours of Monday morning.
Caesar was found inside his home at 12:40 a.m. Monday, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Family members are shocked and awaiting more information on the incident, according to his brother, Karl Caesar. Ivan Caesar attended Charlotte Amalie High School in the 1980s, later graduating from Dorchester High School in Boston, Caesar said.
Judi Shimel aired a taped interview with Karl on Radio One. While commenting on the tragedy, Karl — a freelance sportswriter and former legislative aide — spoke of happier times growing up with his brother.
"I remember as far back as NFL draft day," Karl said. "We shared an apartment in Boston. We were sitting around just waiting for a call, and Ivan cleaned the whole house. Finally the coach called and said he was going to give him a try."
Eventually Ivan achieved one of his NFL goals.
"Ivan worked hard to get where he was," Karl said. "The peak was when he actually started a few games. It was something he always dreamed about."
Karl said he learned about the death from his sister.
"She called me out of work," he said. "She hugged me and started crying, and told me my brother was dead. Not the words you want to hear. Up to now, we don't know the full story."
Investigators think there were witnesses inside the room when Ivan was attacked, the Orlando Sentinel reported. The paper quotes Robyn Caesar, Ivan's ex-wife, as saying Ivan "had trouble at work." The couple was married and divorced twice.
Robyn Caesar last talked with her ex-husband in December when he canceled a trip to spend time with their four sons, the Sentinel reported.
"I know he had a lot of demons," Robyn Caesar told the paper. "I know most people do. And he's taking them to his grave."
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