Deputy Abella died as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident that occurred while he was responding to a trespasser call.

Deputy Abella was the son of David and Pamela Abella of Temple Terrace, FL. In addition to his parents he is survived by his wife, Angela; son, Shawn; two daughters, Alissa and Alexis, all of Plant City; brother, Vincent Abella of Plant City; sister, Amanda Abella of Temple Terrace; paternal grandmother, Hortensia Abella of Tampa; maternal grandparents, Floyd and Marion Howard of Plant City.

A lifelong resident of the Tampa area, after graduating from Plant City High School, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard for four years. After leaving the Coast Guard he was chief engineer for Seabulk Towing Co. before joining the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on 7/7/03.