TAMPA - Slain police Officer Lois Marrero's younger sister denied Wednesday that on the day of Marrero's funeral she removed items from the home her sister shared for 10 years with police Officer Mickie Mashburn.

``Ms. Marrero denies ever coming into the Mashburn home and taking any property,'' said Marrero's lawyer, Richard Hirsch. Hirsch noted that Mashburn did not file a police report.

The denial came amid a volley of accusations begun when Mashburn filed for surviving spousal pension benefits, about five weeks after Marrero was shot by a fleeing bank robber July 6.

The pension board voted unanimously Tuesday to award Marrero's pension benefits to her estate, which means they will go to her family. Marrero left no will. Mashburn vowed to appeal.

Mashburn's attorney, Danny Castillo, stood by his assertion about the missing property and said that he wasn't calling it a crime. Castillo blamed Brenda Marrero for stirring up a fight over Lois Marrero's estate that has become increasingly personal.

The Marreros have said their daughter was on the outs with Mashburn and that Marrero's true love was an unnamed woman in Texas.

In the volley of accusations, Castillo and Mashburn said they believe Brenda Marrero removed items belonging to her sister from the couple's house on the day of the funeral, when nobody was home. Castillo elaborated Wednesday, saying jewelry, shoes and photographs were missing after Mashburn returned from a police reception after Marrero's burial.

Regardless, Castillo added, he isn't alleging it would have amounted to a crime, and raised it only because of Marrero's remarks about Mashburn.

Hirsch, Brenda Marrero's lawyer, flatly denied she ever entered the home uninvited and removed property.

``Absolutely false,'' Hirsch said of the allegation.

Reporter Geoff Dutton can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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