COCOA BEACH

Florida’s efforts to keep beaches clean and save lives in the ocean are taking a high-tech turn with the introduction of a cleaning robot.

A British man visiting Brevard County this past weekend now has the ultimate fishing story to tell his family and friends.

Central Florida teacher accused of hitting child who has autism in the face, police sayCOCOA BEACH, Fla. — A Cocoa Beach teacher is facing felony child abuse charges after police said she hit a student in the face. READ: Woman arrested after crashing Brevard County wedding, getting food and beer, refusing to leaveOfficers said Candice Bartell was caught on video hitting a child who has autism. Bartell, who is a teacher at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary, told investigators it was a “playful tap” to show affection. READ: Judge: 14-year-old to be charged as adult for fatal shooting on Titusville bike trailSchool officials told investigators that teachers know not to touch students’ faces. ©2022 Cox Media Group

Spring breakers may catch a glimpse of a beach robot trudging through the sand of Brevard County's coastline this month.

A teacher at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School was arrested after she struck a child with autism in the face, according to Cocoa Beach police.

A six-story hotel with a parking garage and swimming pools could dramatically change the look of the Cocoa Beach Pier.

A man was arrested on Valentine's Day, accused of raping a woman in September, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office.

Warm

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School is being evacuated Friday morning after reports of a bomb threat. The school district tweeted at 10:50 a.m. that students and staff were being moved to a designated safety zone. School officials said they are working with law enforcement to sweep the campus and investigate. We are evacuating our students & staff to a designated safety zone.

Just six days before his 50th birthday, there was Kelly Slater being hoisted through a sea of euphoric spectators, celebrating with a bottle of Champagne in one hand and tears of joy and memories flowing in his eyes.

The virus that causes COVID-19 bumped up to record levels in Cocoa Beach sewage at the same time it was plummeting in neighboring Cape Canaveral.

With 5,000 COVID-19 take-home tests, there was enough for hundreds of drivers moving through two locations in Cocoa on Thursday.

Crowds of people gathered at Cocoa Beach on Christmas Eve to watch as surfers donning their best Santa attire made waves on the Space Coast.

Surfing Santas will once again return to Cocoa Beach after going virtual last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — A Cocoa Beach father was arrested after police say he threatened a school official and struck a school resource officer. According to a police report Michael Ciccarello became irate during a meeting with school officials to discuss his daughter’s return to school. School staff then placed a portion of the school on lockdown to protect students. Read: NASA officials give a preview of the launch of the agency’s first planetary defense test missionPolice said Ciccarello was then ordered to leave the school but he refused. As officers were taking Ciccarello into custody, he struck an officer and tried to leave the school before being tased and arrested.

Teen killed in possible accidental shooting, police say Stock photo of crime scene tape. (Kali9/Getty Images)COCOA BEACH, Fla. — Cocoa Beach police are investigating a deadly shooting that happened Friday night. According to police, a Satellite Beach teen died of an apparent gunshot wound. The investigation led to the 150 block of Cedar Avenue, where police believe the shooting occurred. Read: Sheriff investigating a fatal shooting at hookah bar in Kissimmee, deputies sayPolice said the shooting appears to be the tragic result of the mishandling of a firearm.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — A well-being check ends in an arrest in Cocoa Beach on Saturday. Cocoa Beach police responded to the 300 block of North Fourth Street following the request for a well-being check on a female who lives at the residence. Read: Body of missing woman Miya Marcano found, sheriff saysThe Brevard County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location to assist. Read: Residents at Arden Villas demand change after missing woman found deadThis was an isolated incident with no threat to the community. Anyone who may have information pertinent to this case is asked to contact the Cocoa Beach Police Department at 321-868-3251.

A 17-year-old boy from Cocoa drowned near the Westgate Cocoa Beach pier on Saturday morning, according to Cocoa Beach Police & Fire.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — Kent Fey remembers the smog, the smell and the sound of that fateful day in 1981. He was feet away when the five-story Harbour Cay condominiums that were under construction in Cocoa Beach collapsed. Surfside condo collapse: Search efforts resume, building demolition ‘likely’Fey was working as a lifeguard at Fischer Park when he heard the building come crashing down. In all, 11 construction workers died and 23 were injured in the collapse that day in March 1981. ‘Walkways are in danger of collapse’: 72 Osceola County condo units declared unsafe“Actually, because I think people have to understand that cutting corners is not acceptable.

Beach safety officials are warning beachgoers to swim near lifeguards and look out for posted warnings about rip currents after several swimmers recently died in Brevard County.

A call was received Saturday about two people in distress in the water in Cocoa Beach.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A 12-year-old boy from Cocoa Beach said he plans to surf again one day after recently being attacked by a shark. Jai Villamil was surfing in New Smyrna Beach on Monday when a shark bit him multiple times, he said. He said the shark bit him in the nerves, so he did not have any pain. READ: Man, boy bitten by sharks at New Smyrna BeachHe was with a friend who had just gotten of a wave and told him he had been bitten by a shark. READ: Stingray deaths at ZooTampa blamed on ‘supersaturation’Vilamil will be wheelchair-bound for at least six to eight months as he recovers.

Saharan dust coming to your hometown may sound scary, but it will actually make for astonishing sunsets in Central Florida. The dust cloud that rides...

The Fat Snook owner Mona Foy said she hopes to have the restaurant open again in early July.

The Fat Snook in Cocoa Beach is temporarily closed due to "unprecedented labor shortage."

After a year that all but proved their central stance untenable and ridiculous, an anti-vax group is planning a superspreader event in Cocoa Beach. The...

Seaweed on the beach is nothing new, but this is a lot.

Cheering staff at Cape Canaveral Hospital Friday received a visit from who Health First officials said was the hospital chain’s first COVID-19 patient and survivor.

A motorcyclist traveling in Cocoa Beach crashed into a van Wednesday night, killing the driver and himself, according to the Cocoa Beach Police Department.

Follow these traffic guidelines if you're on the roads on Crew-2 launch day.

Valiant Air Command, the group that owns the vintage World War II torpedo bomber that splash-landed off Patrick Space Force Base on Saturday, was planning to move the aircraft back to its museum.

Crews rescued a pilot who landed their plane close to shore at the Cocoa Beach Air Show Saturday after a “mechanical issue,” according to event organizers.

It's getting even hotter and drier.

A pet runway model contest and dog surfing championships were among many activities at the 57th annual Easter Surf Festival in Cocoa Beach this weekend.

Plans are advancing to raze International Palms Resort and replace it with a $300 million, four-star-plus Westin-branded oceanfront resort with 502 rooms.

Tens of millions of dollars is being spent to repeatedly rebuild Central Florida beaches as the effects of climate change chew away the sand.

His travel is also restricted to the Middle District of Florida and Washington D.C., as needed for his trial. A screen capture from Dillion Homol's Facebook Live. According to the FBI, Homol in a live stream said: “It’s the Capitol building, they are counting the electorals in there right now and we stormed it. A screen capture from Dillion Homol's Facebook Live. At least 29 people have been arrested in Florida as of Thursday, of which 21 in the Middle District of Florida.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Cocoa Beach — the Space Coast’s premier tourism spot — soon will see new sands, dredged up and pumped in from shoals several miles offshore of Cape Canaveral. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin placing the new sand on the so-called North Reach section of its Brevard County Shore Protection Project “on or about March 20,” News 6 partner Florida Today reports. That estimated $15 million project is expected to be completed by April 30, county officials say, when beach widening projects must stop to prevent disrupting endangered and threatened sea turtle nesting. AdThe Cocoa Beach project, also expected to be complete by April 30, is the latest in a series of periodic federal beach renourishments that began in 2000. The source sand for the Cocoa Beach project will be dredged from Canaveral Shoals, about five miles offshore of Cape Canaveral.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – During a warm weekend in Cocoa Beach, Mayor Ben Malik was driving downtown on State Road A1A when he encountered “people with coolers stumbling into the road” en route from the beach to their vehicles. I’m tired of talking about it,” he said during last week’s Cocoa Beach City Commission meeting. Interviewed Monday, Malik said he hopes to discuss beach-drinking regulations during the March 18 Cocoa Beach City Commission meeting. For years, Cocoa Beach officials have wrestled with options to control nuisance drinkers who congregate each spring near the beach end of Minutemen Causeway. AdGeneral beach rules in Cocoa Beach, per the City Hall website:

It’s almost like pre-pandemic spring break, says Thompson. Another sign that spring break tourism is rebounding is the passenger figures at Orlando International Airport, traditionally one of the nation’s busiest airports during spring break. AdSoft national numbersNationally, however, spring break tourism demand remains soft. Despite the nationwide progress on COVID-19 vaccines, spring break travel intentions actually appear to be dropping. The 12.4% who plan to travel for spring break is down from 16% the week prior, the poll by Destination Analysts found.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – With his Backstreet Boys touring schedule postponed by the pandemic, Howie D addressed a small crowd during the groundbreaking of his $35 million Cocoa Beach condominium complex, News 6 partner Florida Today reports. Crews will construct The Surf in downtown Cocoa Beach between Minutemen Causeway and North First Street, at the vacant former beachfront home of Ocean Dunes. “We’re so excited to see a brand-new (housing) product come online in Cocoa Beach,” Mayor Ben Malik said. The groundbreaking ceremony honored Charles Boyd, the Cocoa Beach developer who died in May at age 72. “We are in the process of right now trying to get things geared back up to do some more touring,” Howie D said.

The U.S. Air Force’s top two demonstration teams will take flight at the Cocoa Beach Air Show. The Thunderbirds will kick off their 2021 season at the show along with a performance from the F-22 Raptor Demo Team, air show officials said. The F-22 Raptor is the fastest and most maneuverable fighter jet in the world, according to officials with the air show. “Having the double headliner of the Thunderbirds and F-22 Raptor Demo will kick the destination appeal of the Cocoa Beach Air Show into afterburner.”Other air acts include the SOCOM Para-Commandos, the Douglas C-47 Tico Bell, Geico Skytypers and Mike Wiskus. Tickets are on sale now with early bird prices starting at $21 and will increase to $36 on the event day.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Pedestrians had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit by a man who was driving a van on the beach and another area not open to vehicle traffic, according to the Cocoa Beach Police Department. Pedestrians who were in the area had to jump out of Tumey’s way, according to the affidavit. When police arrived, they said Tumey was gathering belongings from his vehicle. Tumey was arrested on charges of reckless driving and driving with a suspended license. Click here to subscribe to ClickOrlando.com’s Strange Florida newsletter, delivered every Friday.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Some Cocoa Beach residents have voiced concerns over the installation of new pedestrian crosswalks with lighted beacons because they flash yellow and not red, potentially giving walkers a false sense of security as they cross a busy roadway. “We don’t want these tragic incidents to happen like what happened to Sophia.”As part of a pedestrian safety project, FDOT was proposing additional pedestrian beacons to be installed along S.R. A1A in Cocoa Beach, from Cocoa Isle Boulevard and Lucie Lane. While Cocoa Beach city leaders are voicing their disapproval of the project, FDOT moved forward with a public meeting Tuesday and said that the plans for installing the pedestrian beacons are not set in stone. The pedestrian safety project was requested by the city of Cocoa Beach in 2017.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Adding mid-block crossings with flashing-yellow lights along State Road A1A poses “an unreasonable safety risk” for pedestrians — because some drivers fail to stop when the lights are activated, the Cocoa Beach City Commission argues. The address is 900 N. Atlantic Ave. in Cocoa Beach. Cocoa Beach — S.R. It’s remarkable that FDOT doesn’t do anything about this,” Cocoa Beach City Commissioner Ed Martinez said during last week’s meeting. It’s remarkable that FDOT doesn’t do anything about this,” Cocoa Beach City Commissioner Ed Martinez said during last week’s meeting.

The National Weather Service earlier this week warned that South Florida could experience the coldest Christmas Day in 21 years. Morning lows on Saturday could drop into the low 30s and 40s degrees Fahrenheit, the weather service said. Much colder temps expected for Christmas,” the National Weather Service in Miami tweeted earlier this week. A squall line with severe storms and fast-moving winds also was headed for north Florida on Christmas Eve. The pandemic also was impacting a Space Coast tradition — Surfing Santa Day, which takes place the day before Christmas.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – The tradition of dressing up like St. Nick and hitting the waves continues in Cocoa Beach for the 11th annual Surfing Santa event in Cocoa Beach. “I saw them surfing... Santa Clause,” said Mason, a child watching from the shoreline Thursday morning. The event usually draws tens of thousands of people to the Space Coast and hundreds of surfers from across the globe. Although the event was held virtually this year, hundreds of families still decided to show up and continue their Christmas Eve tradition. But he said the experience is unlike any other with families bringing the Christmas spirit to life.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – On Thursday, organizers of what’s been the largest holiday party on Cocoa Beach the past decade plan to break up the crowds for a change. Thousands traditionally watch hundreds of “Surfing Santas” on Christmas Eve at Coconuts on the Beach. Trosset said the decision to cancel received criticism from Surfing Santas fans who anticipated the full-scale event would go on. “Out of an abundance of caution, we chose not to have a gathering of Santas, but people love Surfing Santas,” Trosset said. They may go to another spot.”Dan Sheehan, from Fort Lauderdale, is in Cocoa Beach for Christmas and said he’ll be surfing Thursday.

A 33-year-old motorcycle rider died Sunday night in a crash on State Road A1A in Cocoa Beach, the Florida Highway Patrol reported. The wreck happened around 10:15 p.m. on SR A1A near South 20th Street. According the FHP crash report, the biker left the road for an unknown reason and hit a wall, ricocheting into a ditch. The rider later died at a local hospital, troopers said. The crash remains under investigation.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A fourth person has been arrested in a fatal shooting at a motel in Cocoa Beach. Police said Sheppard is at the Brevard County Jail with no bond. Earlier this week, investigators said three people have been arrested in the fatal shooting of Shawn M. McGraw at a motel in Cocoa Beach from Nov. 12, 2019. Wellington was arrested and was transported to the Brevard County jail and is being held on no bond, according to authorities. Back on Nov. 12, police said officers responded to a room at the Fawlty Towers Motel on the Cocoa Beach Causeway and investigators found McGraw with a gunshot wound.

Cocoa Beach ends mask mandate but businesses can still require face coveringsIf you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Kenne Wells said she is not changing the mask requirement at her store, the Coastal Market, after the City of Cocoa Beach ended its mask mandate on Monday. Wells said she’s making a new sign for her customers, so they know they still have to wear a mask inside the market. Even though the city won’t require masks anymore, businesses can still require face coverings. The change comes after city leaders saw a drop in positive COVID-19 cases and because the governor no longer allows cities to fine people not wearing masks. Since the pandemic started I’ve lived inside, bubble boy, and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping,” Viola said.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Leaders in Cocoa Beach announced on Friday that the city will no longer require the public to wear a face covering starting Monday. A mask mandate was put into place by city officials on June 30 as cases of COVID-19 began to erupt in all parts of the Sunshine State. Deleuil said he’s spoken with other business owners in town, and many are planning to still require a mask in order to enter their establishments. “Again, we have zero ability to regulate it.”The governor’s executive order doesn’t specifically address mask mandates because a statewide mask mandate was never issued. Cocoa Beach officials said while the city can no longer enforce a mask mandate, private owned businesses can continue to have mask policies as they see fit.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – A vehicle exiting Health First’s Cape Canaveral Hospital struck and killed a pedestrian Sunday night, according to the Cocoa Beach Police Department. Police said the victim was a 37-year-old woman. Her name has not been released. The blue 2011 Volkswagen is believed to have exited the parking lot of Cape Canaveral Hospital and pulled onto State Road 520 around 10 p.m. when the crash occurred, records show. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Cocoa Beach Police Department at 321-868-3251.

Teddy will be pushing the ocean right into the coast which could lead to coastal flooding and beach erosion. Coastal flood watches and warning go into effect Saturday eveningA coastal flood warning goes into effect Saturday evening for coastal Flagler county. This means that coastal flooding is possible in these areas. Pay extra close attention if you live in an area prone to coastal flooding. Coastal flooding occurs from rising ocean water being forced inland by a storm rather than from heavy rain.

COCOA BEACH – A missing woman was found in Cocoa Beach on Saturday by a civilian beach ranger, according to the Cocoa Beach Police Department. Beach ranger Don Dysert located the 59-year-old woman at the east end of Minutemen Causeway after she had been reported missing Saturday morning, authorities said. The woman, who reportedly suffers from dementia, was unharmed and was reunited safely with her family, authorities said.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. Seniors with the Class of 2020 at Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High School celebrated their graduation during a socially distant ceremony Saturday morning. Almost two months after the school year ended, the seniors finally got their moment to celebrate all of their accomplishments. The ceremony featured pre-recorded speeches from six valedictorians and in-person bridge crossings.The students reflected on the year. Valedictorian Declan Ridgeway called it an emotional roller coaster and said the COVID-19 pandemic robbed them of their senior memories. Valedictorian Christina Tomacari reflected on how like the pandemic, life after graduation will have its challenges.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. The city of Cocoa Beach is set to hold a special meeting Tuesday evening to discuss whether or not to put a face mask mandate in place as cases of COVID-19 continue to climb. The mandate would need to be approved by the city commission and would require face mask use for every person working, living, visiting, or doing business in the City of Cocoa Beach wear a face covering in any indoor public location, other than their home or residence, and in any public outdoor location when not maintaining social distancing from other person(s), excluding family members or companions, according to city officials. While Brevard does not have a county-wide mandate requiring face mask use, some popular businesses have put mask rules into place to protect staff and guests. The Cocoa Beach Pier announced July 3 that it would require all guests to wear a face mask. Bars will remain closed per state guidelines, but beverage service is available at our tables, pier leaders said in a post.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Update 2:40 p.m.Officials have located the person who was involved in the hit-and-run. The young swimmer was hit at 12:21 p.m. and the vessel left the scene, according to the FWC. FWC officers and deputies with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office were searching for the boat. Around 10:30 p.m., FWC officials said they located the person involved. Authorities did not provide a description of the boat or the girl’s condition.

In ordinary times, the beaches and roads along Floridas Space Coast would be packed with hundreds of thousands of spectators, eager to witness the first astronaut launch from Florida in nine years, scheduled for May 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)ORLANDO, Fla. In ordinary times, the beaches and roads along Floridas Space Coast would be packed with hundreds of thousands of spectators, eager to witness the first astronaut launch from Florida in nine years. Earlier this month, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine asked potential spectators to watch the launch online or on TV from home. NASA astronauts have not launched from the U.S. since the space shuttle program ended in 2011. Although crowd sizes varied, a high-profile space shuttle launch could attract a half million visitors to the Space Coast.

click image Screenshot via Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier/YouTubeBeachgoers left behind more than 13,000 pounds of trash at a Florida beach last weekend. According to Florida Today, crews last Saturday and Sunday picked up over 13,000 pounds of garbage on Cocoa Beach, which is about an hour east of Orlando, as the state continues to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. The huge increase in trash, which for scale is equal to roughly the same weight as a full grown African bush elephant or an adult T-Rex, has prompted local officials to increase fines and enforcement. Cocoa Beach wasnt the only sandy spot in Florida that had a tough time reopening to the public. Last weekend, the City of Naples decided to reclose their beaches after large crowds were reported.

The body of a missing swimmer was found in Cocoa Beach on Tuesday. Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - This weekend, Brevard County is under a tropical storm watch and lifeguards expect waves to be about half the size of the big surf Hurricane Dorian brought to the Central Florida coast. Just like a tropical storm, I think, or not even," Corbin said not worried about the new storm. Brevard Ocean Rescue said when crews got to 14th Street, those two people had gotten out of the water safely. Brevard County said Dorian did millions of dollars in damage to sand dunes from Satellite Beach to Melbourne Beach. Like lifeguards, Brevard County Emergency Management is also warning of possible storm conditions this weekend.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - A kite surfer decided to brave the waves Tuesday ahead of Hurricane Dorian. The Category 2 storm was on its way toward Florida's coast, causing rough waves at Central Florida beaches. In Cocoa Beach, a kite surfer took advantage of the 20 mph winds. Spectators even edged toward the shore to watch the surfer catch some waves. Authorities warn that the kite surfer's actions are extremely dangerous, especially as a hurricane approaches.

Getty ImagesPeople take photos as the sun rises over a nearly empty beach as Hurricane Dorian lingers offshore Tuesday in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Getty ImagesTwo men observe a squall caused by Hurricane Dorian, which is looming in the Atlantic Ocean, on Tuesday in Ormond Beach, Florida. Getty ImagesA woman takes a picture as the effects of Hurricane Dorian begin to be felt Monday in Cocoa Beach (Scott Olson/Getty Images). Getty ImagesWaves roll in to shore as Hurricane Dorian continued to make its way toward the Florida coast Monday in Indialantic, Florida (Scott Olson/Getty Images). Getty ImagesPeople were seen making sandbags Saturday at the citys municipal center in New Smyrna Beach, Florida (Mark Wilson/Getty Images).

Getty ImagesPeople take photos as the sun rises over a nearly empty beach as Hurricane Dorian lingers offshore Tuesday in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Getty ImagesTwo men observe a squall caused by Hurricane Dorian, which is looming in the Atlantic Ocean, on Tuesday in Ormond Beach, Florida. Getty ImagesA woman takes a picture as the effects of Hurricane Dorian begin to be felt Monday in Cocoa Beach (Scott Olson/Getty Images). Getty ImagesWaves roll in to shore as Hurricane Dorian continued to make its way toward the Florida coast Monday in Indialantic, Florida (Scott Olson/Getty Images). Getty ImagesPeople were seen making sandbags Saturday at the citys municipal center in New Smyrna Beach, Florida (Mark Wilson/Getty Images).

A message to Hurricane Dorian is spry painted on a covering over a window at the Coastal Angler Magazine office, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in Cocoa Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)Powerful Hurricane Dorian has been going nowhere because nothing high up is making it budge. But meteorologists say the steering currents at 18,000 feet above ground have ground to a halt because high pressure and low pressure systems are canceling each other out. The steering currents aren't moving, so neither is Dorian. Its eyewall first hit Grand Bahama Island Sunday night, and 18 hours later part of the eye still lingered there. While it's horrible for the Bahamas, meteorologists say it may help spare Florida a bit.

Ed Martnez, co-owner of The Fat Donkey Ice Cream and Fine Desserts in Cocoa Beach. (Image: Justin Potter/WKMG)COCOA BEACH, Fla. - News 6 viewers voted, and it's official: The Fat Donkey Ice Cream in Cocoa Beach won the top spot for this year's Best of Summer Frozen Treat. The ice cream shop has become a staple in the seaside town since opening in 2013. "We have dessert jars, we have specialty churro ice cream sandwiches that we make that are amazing, waffle ice cream sandwiches," co-owner Kim Martnez said. The ice cream shop was once the Mai Tiki Studio Gallery owned by local artist Wayne Coombs who died in 2012.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins returned to the launch pad Tuesday at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida where he flew to the moon 50 years ago along with the late Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins speaks at a panel discussion on the 50th anniversary of the launch, in Cocoa Beach, Florida, U.S., July 16, 2019. REUTERS/Joe SkipperWonderful feeling to be back at launch pad 39A, Collins, the command module pilot for Apollo 11, said in an interview on the pad with Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, himself a veteran of four space shuttle launches and a former shuttle commander. Aldrin, 89, was to join Collins on the launch pad but canceled. Collins was to be joined Tuesday evening at a gala in Cape Canaveral, Florida, by Charles Duke, the youngest human to walk on the moon as an Apollo 16 astronaut, Apollo flight director Gerald Griffin, Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, and four-time shuttle veteran Charlie Precourt.

A conversation with Amy Gellert's killer Bunny and Bob Lehton were held captive and attacked by an intruder in their Cocoa Beach, Fla., home on March 20, 1994. In a police interview 12 days later, they describe the masked man's behavior during the moments leading up to the killing of their daughter.

Florida investigators hunt for unusual weapons in brutal 1994 attack, murder "He had a real relationship with that dagger." Bunny and Bob Lehton describe how an intruder controlled them with an unusual dagger and a prop gun during an attack at their Cocoa Beach home on March 20, 1994.