murders in citrus county florida

In 1989, he was executed by electric chair in Florida State Prison. Defense for Couey argued that he had suffered from a lifetime of emotional abuse and had a below normal IQ, which would enable him to avoid a death sentence under a 2002 Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the execution of mentally handicapped people. These trainings incorporate stressors and how they affect deputy and guardian responses along with tactical maneuvers and overall situational awareness. Burglary and theft prevention tips Make sure your homes, sheds or anything that can be locked has proper locking mechanisms; install motion activated lighting; keep items out of sight from the roadways, and behind fencing/lockable gates when possible; put up cameras. The investigation had a lot of moving parts and required a tremendous amount of coordination. He developed a relationship online, and then travelled to Citrus County to take advantage of a juvenile. CCSO deputies and detectives promptly responded to the scene to investigate. BLOG; CATEGORIES. James Robert Fain Updated Sep 21, 2022 James Robert Fain, 28, Inverness, arrested Sept. 19 for felony cause cruel death, pain and suffering, and felony cruelty to animals. October 20, 2022 Citrus County drug bust leads to seizure of guns, cash, $1M worth of cocaine A six-month investigation in Citrus County led to three arrests. Following agency policy, the deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of the preliminary FDLE investigation. And when Anthony was found not guilty of her daughters murder. Exotic lost the suit and soon owed Baskin a lot of money. They work closely with other local, state, and federal authorities. ontwo counts of murder-for-hire, eight counts of violating the Lacey Act for falsifying wildlife records, and nine counts of violating the Endangered Species Act, according. There is only one person in the world that should be held responsible for Jessica Lunsford's death and that's John Couey. Touchton was then sentenced to six consecutive life sentences for Capital Sexual Battery and two consecutive five-year sentences for Domestic Battery. I am extremely proud of the teamwork from the various law enforcement agencies that went into making these arrests possible and for knowing that thanks to their dedication, weve stopped these sexual predators from preying on children in our county and our surrounding counties.. Forcible sex offenses. Anyone having information about this case is encouraged to contact the Major Case Assessment Team at (850) 891-4462 or (850) 891-4745. He then set up a campsite near the University of Florida and murdered five students in a shockingly brutal manner, stabbing them repeatedly and cutting the nipples off two of the women. Joshua Fitzwater (DOB 11/28/1984), Homosassa, FL- Violation of Probation original charge of Possession of Paraphernalia. As deputies approached the suspect, he refused to comply with verbal commands. Special Victims Unit conducts specialized investigations into the sexual and physical abuse cases involving children. More notably, he has trained over 50 personnel in establishing emergency communications through two-way radio, satellite, and cellular connections. (Citrus County, FL) Tuesday, May 3, 2022, the Citrus County Sheriffs Offices (CCSO) Wanted of the Week, 48-year-old Jason Munn of Floral City, was arrested by authorities with the Saguache County Sheriffs Office in Colorado, thanks to the assistance of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force. Mugshot.com, known as best search engine for Arrest Records, True crime stories and Criminal Records, Official Records and booking photographs. Eric Paul Clemente, 33, Floral City, arrested Sept. 19 for felony burglary of unoccupied residence and criminal mischief ($200 or less). shirts to support this amazing cause and are encouraged to cheer on participants at either Publix locations or CCSOs operations building. Detective Cornell began his career with the Citrus County Sheriffs Office on February 14, 2000, as a Deputy Sheriff where he responded to various calls for service in our community and worked diligently enforcing Floridas laws for the safety of our community. Thanks to our deputies quick thinking and superior performance, they were able to protect our community from further harm.. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. I was raped. 784.03(1)(A)(1). Philip Tompkins, Communications Quality Assurance & Training Coordinator, completed comprehensive training for the program. In February 1994, on the eve of his murder trial, Rolling pled guiltyto five counts of murder and three counts each of sexual battery and armed burglary. Todays seizure and arrests demonstrate our unwavering effort in stopping the flow of deadly drugs in our community. Her story was even told in the 2003 film Monster, which won Charlize Theron a Best Actress Oscar. Upon arrival, deputies located the deceased, identified as Bruce Payne, in a shed on the property. On July 28, 2022, the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) responded to a motor vehicle crash that occurred near the 8000 block of North Suncoast Boulevard in Crystal River. FLORAL CITY, Fla. - Deputies with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office say they seized the largest amount of pure, uncut crystal methamphetamine in agency history. Citrus is a county located in FL, and has a population of 140,011. The powder was field-tested and yielded a positive result for the presence of Fentanyl. This training taught by FDLE officials is one of several courses that address the role of the SRD and is intended to prepare the SRD to respond immediately to an active shooter incident. As I learned a long time ago, this career demands constant pursuit of excellence when it comes to education and training to stay ahead of the bad guys.. Over time, roughly 36,831 of those homicides were solved, leaving Florida with around 19,064 unsolved murders. Most, if not all, of the unsolved murders in Florida can be found organized by law enforcement and investigating agencies on the Florida Department of Law Enforcements unsolved cases website, as well as many additional local and county law enforcement websites. CCSO has to comply with numerous standards in order to receive accredited status. Slanker. We will continue to fight illicit drug activity in our community at every given opportunity.. If youre hosting a gathering, make sure all your guests have a sober ride home. According to the publicly released autopsy reports, Lunsford had poked two fingers through the bags before suffocating to death, and the fingers had skeletonized. But to willingly arrange to meet up with a child to carry out these sickening acts makes them very real and very dangerous. Law enforcement officials from seven Florida counties, who make up the 23rd and 24th cohorts of Saint Leo Universitys Command Officer Management Program, received their diplomas earlier today. 486. Detective Mission conducted an interview with the juvenile victim who disclosed sexual activity with Geller that began shortly after his release from prison in 2019. Soon he was caught on tape trying to hire a hitman (in reality an undercover agent) to kill Baskin, and was arrested in Gulf Breeze, Florida. (Citrus County, FL) Yesterday, 36-year-old Russell Thomas Florence of Homosassa, Florida, pled guilty to Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child under 12. Due to the incredible work by our SVU detectives, alongside the Child Protection Team at Jessies Place, Touchton was quickly arrested and remained in custody all the way through todays trial. Pats many contributions over his distinguished career have played an integral part in meeting the mission of excellence in public safety, said Sheriff Prendergast. While taking on this new role, Ramos will also continue to hold her position as Coordinator for Crime Stoppers of Citrus County. Her sensational trial featuring her defenses scorched-earth tactics against her family was watched by around 40 million viewers. POLK COUNTY, Fla. A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with a murder after he posted a song about the slaying, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Nicholas Sullivan (DOB 3/9/1990), Hernando, FL- Strangulation F.S.S. But in 2008, Time reported that Florida police closed the case, saying that OToole, who has since been executed and allegedly confessed again to the murder before his was death, was indeed the killer. (Citrus County, FL)On July 13, 2022, 33-year-old Diana Elizabeth Guevara of Inverness, Florida, was arrested on a warrant for the charges of Transmitting Harmful Materials to Minors, Unlawful Sexual Activity with Certain Minors, and four counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery in reference to multiple incidents that occurred over the past several months at her residence in Inverness, Florida. This conduct will not be tolerated in Citrus County, and the SVU detectives will work tirelessly to bring justice to these young victims.. After failing to comply with verbal commands, fearing for the safety of others, the suspect was shot one time. Total bond set at $15,485.00. Couey had lived at the West Snowbird Court residence with Dixon, her boyfriend Matt Dittrich, her daughter and sonin-law, Madie and Gene Secord, and her two-year-old grandson, Joshua. Deputies were dispatched to an alarm call at TD Bank in Crystal River shortly before noon today. The suspect appeared to be a 60 to 62 heavy-set male, wearing a mask, a hoodie, pants, tennis shoes, and gloves. . (Citrus County, FL) On October 20, 2022, the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) arrested 30-year-old John Dylan Gromling of Beverly Hills for first-degree felony murder as a result of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (fentanyl) which resulted in the overdose death of 53-year-old Bruce William Payne of Inverness. Many of the most famous Florida serial killers can easily be found on any top ten or other form of serial killer list, including, but not limited to, list of serial killers in Florida and Florida serial killer list. Detectives spotted the vehicle and members of the Tactical Impact Unit jumped on surveillance, tracking the suspects movement. She was taken to a nearby hospital. On December 10th, 2020, Judge Howard sentenced 28-year-old Emery Whitt to 30 years in prison for the 2017 murder of Ryan McClellan. In addition, some of the other unsolved murders Florida which are included in the long list of cold cases are the numerous east Florida unsolved murders. Melbin Yamil Mojica-Torres (DOB 9-17-79), of Orlando, FL. Shamy Tommie (DOB 7/23/1985), Crystal River, FL- Domestic Battery F.S.S. In 2007, Nowak, then 43, embarked on the hours-long drive from Houston to Orlando to allegedly kidnap 30-year-old Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman, who was dating. On October 20th and 21st, the Citrus County Sheriffs Office implemented their plan, not only to capture active wanted domestic violence suspects, but also help raise awareness in our communities. Various narcotics, drug paraphernalia, eighteen firearms (including three stolen firearms), hundreds of rounds of ammunition, body-armor, four silencers, an explosive device, and roughly $5,600 in cash from illegal drug activity were seized and turned in as evidence this afternoon. Getty; Fox Searchlight, Very few humans have ventured into space. More famous Florida murders which have been solved include the 2008 murder of Caylee Anthony, Ted Bundys 1978 murders of Lisa Levy, Margaret Bowman, and Kimberly Leach, and the year-long murder spree of Aileen Wuornos. Detectives compared notes and investigated every possible lead. Nearly two years ago, on May 7, 2020, allegations of sexual abuse were reported to the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO). The Behavioral Health Unit, specifically our Domestic Violence Unit, works diligently to reduce domestic violence across the county by working with our community partners like CASA, to intervene and stop the cycle of violence, said Sheriff Prendergast. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. After speaking with the decedents mother and witness on scene, it was determined that the decedent did not have a known medical history that could have been attributed to his passing. Citrus Hills is safer than 58% of the cities in the United States. Notably, 831 of those reports came from Citrus County. Your chance of being a victim of vandalism in Citrus County may be as high as 1 in 188 in the southwest neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 695 in the south part of the county. Jose Joaquin Hernandez (DOB 6-10-64) was arrested and charged in accordance with Florida Statute 828.122 (3) (d), Fighting or baiting animals and promoting, staging, advertising, or charging any admission fee to a fight or baiting between two or more animals. No bond. Prior history of domestic violence. The 6-year-old had been with his mom then suddenly he was gone. Jevaris Dortch (DOB 08/09/2001): Premeditated Murder, Attempted Premeditated Murder, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Shoot/Throw Deadly Missile into Dwelling/Conveyance. Detective Tiffany Barry with the CCSO High Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU) was assigned to the case and immediately began an investigation. Citrus County Total Crime Map After securing the residence and individuals on scene, officials proceeded with the execution of the lawful search warrant. Drug users steal to pay for their addictions; their dependence tarnishes relationships with loved ones and can even result in their death by means of overdose. The Keokuk County Sheriffs Office and the Iowa Animal Rescue League seized all of the animals due to their conditions. CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. - On September 28, 2020, Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) deputies were dispatched to a residence in Inverness regarding a drive-by shooting. When Cohen brought the victim inside, he spontaneously told staff the victim had injuries on his chest, and it was caused by a pet. Katlyn Obrien (DOB 6/6/1993), Hernando, FL- Failure to Appear original charge Battery. People who live in Citrus County generally consider the south part of the county to be the safest for this type of crime. The violent crime rate in Tallahassee, Florida, was approximately 729.57 per 100,000 residents in 2018, and the murder rate in Tallahassee, Florida, was 8.31 per 100,000 residents. (Arrested by Levy County Sheriffs Office), Phillip Simpson (DOB 7/09/1995), Anthony, FL Transmission of Harmful Material 847.0138(2), Computer Pornography; Solicit, Lure, or Entice 847.0135 (3)(a), Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device 934.215. Each year, this signature event highlights the law enforcement community's year-round support of the Special Olympics. Gainesville Rippers String Of Coed Killings, Photo: By 5 p.m. Friday, this outstanding effort resulted in the arrests of the following 20 suspects in Citrus County: Even though National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is ending, our fight against domestic violence is still ongoing. Deputies say 62-year-old Michael Ball was arrested in . She was also reportedly wearing an adult diaper for the trek a detail her legal team denied but one salacious enough to turn her into a national punchline. Dustin Warlick (DOB 2/10/1988), Inverness, FL Travel to Seduce/Solicit Child in Sex Act: F.S.S. He entered Lunsford's house at about three o'clock in the morning through an unlocked door, awakened Lunsford, told her "Don't yell or nothing", and told her to follow him out of the house. She was taken to a nearby hospital. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Ramon Luis Castro (DOB 8-21-42), of Hudson, FL. Dont give criminals an open door of opportunity. Carl Collier (DOB 4/23/1981), Beverly Hills, FL- Strangulation F.S.S. The disgusting and sexually deviant behaviors these predators displayed in their online chats are monstrous. At around the same time, another male body turned. Today, our agency made additional progress in our resilient efforts to combat this crippling epidemic and secure the future for the betterment of our community.. (Citrus County, FL) On January 14, 2022, at approximately 9 P.M., deputies responded to a residence in the area of East Dawson Drive, Inverness, FL in reference to a shooting. On April 20, 2022, CCSOs Community Crimes Detectives and Animal Control Officers served a search warrant for both of Munns properties at 6991 E. Shadywoods Ct. and 7033 E. Shadywoods Ct. in Floral City, in reference to this animal abuse case. Ron DeSantis said after signing his bill into law last week to increase the penalties for those who illegally sell and distribute opioids in our state, Floridians of all walks of life have witnessed the destruction caused by the opioid epidemic across our state. Last year our county had 377 reported drug overdoses with 81 deaths a 47% increase from the year prior. Detective Slingerland and the members of CCSOs Tactical Impact Unit exemplify how our office will continue to support the Governors initiative on combatting the opioid epidemic in Florida.. CCSO joins law enforcement agencies nationwide that will maintain high visibility on the roads as we approach the Labor Day holiday weekend. The jury deliberated for four hours, tasked with recommending either life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, the only two possible sentences available under Florida law. See the section on interpreting the crime map, however, because comparing rates for crime or any other crime is not as intuitive as it may seem. SM MD LG FDLE Crime Report Citrus County Crime Report (2018) Trend County-by-County : Year, : Population, : Number of Offenses, : Crime rate per 100,000 population, : Clearance rate. (Arrested by the USMS FCFTF). Total bond set at none, due to domestic violence related crime. As of this year, there are roughly 19,064 Florida cold cases, according to Project: Cold Case, a not-for-profit organization with the goal of bringing all of the unsolved homicides in the United States to the public eye in an attempt to solve cold cases by linking the information in an organized database. "We here at the Citrus County Sheriffs Office want these offenders to know their actions are unacceptable and they will be held accountable. B. Dawn McDonald (DOB 5/30/1969), Lecanto, FL- Violation of Pretrial Release Terms F.S.S. Hudson was charged with one count of burglary to a structure, two counts of grand theft, as well as a violation of probation. It was Exotic, however, who ended up behind bars for a murder plot. The hard work and dedication of all members led to a very successful outcome. Upon arrival, deputies observed a victim with apparent gunshot wounds lying on the driveway. "While we believe this to be an isolated incident, there are many unknown details that we seek your assistance in obtaining in support of our investigation.". (Citrus County, FL) February 17, 2022, the Citrus County Sheriffs Office SWAT team, along with the support of the Hernando County Sheriffs Office SWAT team, executed a search warrant at 6330 W. Carter Road in Homosassa. Oct 24, 2017 at 12:47 pm. Detectives were able to identify him as a suspect, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest. We encourage all citizens to use this tool so they will remain anonymous and possibly eligible for a cash reward when reporting a crime. Compared to 2014 crime figures for the county, these represent 22.1% and 11.7% dip in violent crime rate and property crime rate respectively. He also served as team leader and supervisor for CCSOs Mobile Command Unit. [7], On June 30, 2006, a judge ruled that Couey's confession was inadmissible in court because when it was recorded police had not granted Couey's requests for a lawyer, thereby rendering the confession invalid and unreliable under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments of the United States Constitution.