Cleanup begins at reservist's vandalized home

WESLEY CHAPEL - The Tampa Bay community is responding to a local Army reservist in need. Captain Arleen Agosto came home to a war zone of osrts Thursday -- vandals tried to destroy to her Wesley Chapel home, while the 43-year-old single mother and Army nurse cared for wounded vets and soldiers in Virginia.

They threw paint and food everywhere, burned walls, ripped up furniture, and damaged photographs dating back years and years.

"Yesterday when I came in I was devastated. I was beyond devastated. I had no clue what I was going to do or how I was going to handle things," Agosto said.

Teacher Juliana Hite saw Agosto's story and decided she had to help.

"I can't believe that a human being would do this to another human being," said Hite. "I had a friend who went through something similar and didn't have as much help and I was hoping that somebody else wouldn't have to go through what she went through."

Hite spent Friday helping Agosto clean and restore photographs. Agosto's insurance company sent workers to clean, but the effort could take an army.

"I had a family that called me up this morning and they told me they cried last night," Hite said.

Several people contacted FOX 13 wanting to donate time and services.

"That makes me feel good. That's a good feeling. I want to thank everybody," Agosto said in tears.

After 25 years in the service as a medic and now a nurse, Agosto is used to taking care of others.

"I just want to go back to work and help my soldiers because I know they need me too," she said.

But now it's her turn.

"Tampa is a very giving community and hopefully the more people that see this the more people they will come out and help as well. She could use all the help she could get," said Hite.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is following leads in the case. If you have information about the vandalism, contact the authorities.