Residents told to lock doors amid search for 4 jail escapees, including murder suspect
A police official says man who escaped from a Mississippi jail and is a suspect in a Monday night killing is believed to have died after barricading himself in a home and setting it on fire during an armed standoff with deputies.
Man indicted on murder charge after killing teen he feared would ‘out’ him as gay
A man was charged with first-degree murder nearly one month after he was suspected of fatally shooting a 19-year-old in Daytona Beach he believed would out him over his sexual preference, according to the Volusia-Flagler State Attorney’s Office.
Man who told authorities where to find Florida woman he killed sentenced to life in prison
A man who told authorities where to find a Florida woman he fatally stabbed in July 2018 was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison nearly four years later, the 7th Circuit State Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
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Federal charges leveled against Florida man accused of firing AK-47 at rangers
Drew Curtis Sikes, 37, faces attempted murder and firearms charges after authorities say he opened fire on park rangers Sunday inside Everglades National Park. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A Florida man who opened fire with an AK-47 rifle on officers inside Everglades National Park is facing federal charges, prosecutors announced Tuesday. The FBI affidavit says the wife had visible marks and scrapes on her face. The FBI affidavit also says Sikes was charged earlier this month with a domestic violence charge of aggravated assault with a firearm involving his wife. The FBI affidavit says Sikes' wife told rangers he had held her in captivity for days and that he was going to kill her.
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2 adults found dead in Altamonte Springs home with 2 children inside
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – Two adults were found dead in a home Wednesday in what appears to be a murder-suicide, according to Altamonte Springs police. Officers said two children were also found unharmed. Officers also made contact with the two children inside the home and said they were not hurt. The friend asked Zoltan Papp if he was OK and received a reply of, “Yes, I love you,” according to the affidavit. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Altamonte Springs Police Department at 407-339-2441 or call 911.
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Man suspected of killing 4 in fight over stimulus check
It says that Halfacre told officers following his arrest Sunday evening that he and his girlfriend — identified only as “J.M." — “were arguing because he wanted some of her stimulus check." Wendy Johnson, a cousin of Halfacre’s girlfriend, told WXIN-TV that the day before the shootings Halfacre demanded half of his girlfriend’s $1,400 pandemic stimulus check, but her cousin refused. “She had just got her money, and he wanted half of her money,” she told the station, citing what her cousin had said after the encounter. Officers later found Halfacre in the attic of a friend's home about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) from the shooting scene, police said.
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Father, son accused of murdering St. Cloud woman appear in court
Cloud woman were back in court Friday morning following several motions filed ahead of the trial. A motion hearing is scheduled for Christopher Otero-Rivera and his father Angel Rivera, both of whom are facing murder charges in the death of Otero-Rivera’s estranged wife, Nicole Montalvo. The state also filled a motion to exclude evidence of Montalvo’s request to modify a temporary injunction against Otero-Rivera. The judge denied a motion to exclude evidence that either defendant had a firearm or other weapon, another motion will be revisited. AdThe father and son are due back in court March 23 for a pre-trial hearing at 9 a.m.
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Arrest made in 2016 cold case homicide, Orange County Sheriff’s Office says
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday investigators have found the killer responsible for a 2016 homicide. The victim’s car was also ransacked, with his gun missing from a small compartment, according to a sheriff’s office report. Witnesses helped investigators create a composite sketch which was kept with sheriff’s office records as they continued to investigate the case over the years. #ColdCase arrest: OCSO Cold Case detectives have solved the Dec. 2016 murder of Louis Massa, who was found dead & wrapped inside a tarp. He’s being held in the Orange County Jail without bond.
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New initiative aims to increase reward for murder tips
ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida’s attorney general met with local law enforcement leaders on Wednesday to announce an increase in award money for anonymous tips in murder cases. AdReward payouts are made through anonymous crime reporting organizations like Crimeline, which partners with local law enforcement agencies. “Anytime that we can have an increase reward, is only going to increase the amount of tips that we receive,” Orange County Sheriff John Mina said. Moody said it would remain for the foreseeable future, but may be reevaluated down the road based on available funds. Anyone with information that can help law enforcement solve a crime is urged to call 1-800-423-TIPS (8477) or visit crimeline.org.