Through these collaborations, we fiercely prepare ourselves to defeat threats and remove any potential hazard that may endanger our students and schools.. Detectives also seized the fighting equipment, along with approximately $5,200 in cash that was utilized for placing bets on the fighting roosters. CCSO joins law enforcement agencies nationwide that will maintain high visibility on the roads as we approach the Labor Day holiday weekend. Following her death, her father, Mark Lunsford, pursued new legislation to provide more stringent tracking of released sex offenders. FOX 13 News CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. - After Citrus County deputies receiving a call for a welfare check, they said they found the body of a Crystal River man. On February 1, 2022, the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) was contacted by the parent of the juvenile victim in this case. (Citrus County, FL) March 3, 2022, in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Richard Ric Howard, a jury found 40-year-old James Touchton of Inverness guilty of Capital Sexual Battery on a Child Under 12 (six counts) and Domestic Battery by Strangulation (two counts). A 30-something drifter named Danny Rolling. However, during one of his short stops, the other passenger of the vehicle, identified as 61-year-old Betty Joan Hall of Lecanto, was able to safely exit. During the search of the vehicle the following narcotics were located: Both Grimaldi and Turney were arrested and charged accordingly: This is just another prime example of how dull-witted individuals dealing illicit drugs are, said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. CCSO. On November 17, 2021, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) was contacted in reference to a physical disturbance near the Family Dollar in Citrus Springs. William Oefelein, another NASA astronaut with whom Nowak had once had an affair. Guevara manipulated the young victims in this case and then took advantage of them,. However, in July 2011, Anthony was acquitted on murder and manslaughter charges, but found guilty on four counts of withholding information from the police. Eventually, the relay came to be known as the Florida Law Enforcement Torch Run. 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 William Oefelein, another NASA astronaut with whom Nowak had once had an affair. Prior history of domestic violence. (Citrus County, FL) A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive on August 2, 2022, to examine all aspects of the Citrus County Sheriffs Offices (CCSO) policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. He had been murdered. In 1976, Bundy was convicted of kidnapping in Utah and extradited to Colorado to stand trial for murder there. During the initial investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Daniel Redman. MARION COUNTY, Fla. - A Marion County man has been arrested in connection to the murder of a retired Florida deputy. Marshals Service for their teamwork, which resulted in the resounding success of this operation. In July 27, 1981, Adam Walsh vanished from a Sears in a Hollywood, Florida mall. Upon arrival, deputies met with the complainant. Remember, Citrus - If you SEE something, SAY something! Over the course of this operation, officials from the Citrus County Sheriffs Office, along with our partners at the United States Marshals Service Florida/Caribbean Fugitive Task Force (USMS FCFTF), the United States Secret Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Sumter County Sheriffs Office, Hernando County Sheriffs Office, Pasco County Sheriffs Office, Sarasota Police Department, and the Longwood Police Department worked collaboratively to capture these online child sex predators. The peak occurred just three years ago in 2009 at 536 but the total violent crime index of the last year of reporting (2011) is not that far behind at 442. We believe the more resources we can provide to digital volunteers and citizen solvers mean more citizen detective communities. John Walsh also co-founded the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children not long after. This unit works in direct conjunction with the Citrus County State Attorneys Office, Jesses Advocacy Center, the Department of Children and Families, as well as other local, state and federal agencies to investigate and prosecute cases involving sexual exploitation and abuse, human trafficking, severe physical abuse cases involving children and a wide variety of other crimes against children. Her mother, Cindy, called 911 to report her granddaughter missing, ABC News reported in 2011. Detective Barry worked with the State Attorneys Office and a warrant was issued for Coles arrest. I was raped. shirts to support this amazing cause and are encouraged to cheer on participants at either Publix locations or CCSOs operations building. in Dunnellon in reference to a disturbance and verbal altercation. In 1979, Bundy was convicted of three murders in Florida and sentenced to death. For over 16 years, Detective Cornell performed digital forensic examinations on computers, cellular phones, camera systems, hard drives, thumb drives, and cloud based servers. Thanks to our deputies quick thinking and superior performance, they were able to protect our community from further harm.. Prior history of domestic violence. Citrus County is in the 56th percentile for safety, meaning 44% of counties are safer and 56% of counties are more dangerous. Circuit Judge Patricia Thomas . Raw crime incidents are sourced from all 18,000+ local law enforcement agencies - municipal, county, transit . Her mother, Cindy, called 911 to report her granddaughter missing. In simple terms, this indicates that 378 persons per 100,000 people livingin Florida were directly impacted by violent crime in 2019 alone. Baskin filed a lawsuit against Exotic after to taunt her he used aspects of Big Cat Rescue branding in his marketing. A grand jury indicted Alexander Myers on first-degree murder and armed-kidnapping charges Thursday, giving the state clearance to prosecute him for . 847.0135 (3)(a), Sexual Offenders Failure to Register; Electronic Mail 943.0435(4)(e)(1), Sexual Offenders Failure to Register; Telephone Numbers 943.0435(4)(e)(2), and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device 934.215. The remains of two dogs were also located under a tarp on the property and one puppy was found deceased in its own feces and urine, with no access to water. Shirts can be purchased at the Citrus County Sheriffs Office Training section in the Park Place building located at 107 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. in Inverness, Monday Friday, 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Citizens can purchase the shirts with cash or check (payable to L.E.T.R.). Citrus County is in the 50th percentile for safety, meaning 50% of counties are safer and 50% of counties are more dangerous. Also among these organized lists are the large numbers of unsolved murders Tallahassee, Florida, which include the 1957 murder of Dorothy Thomas, the 2005 murder of Tony Pierrelouis, and the 2006 murder of Ali Iisha Gilmore, among many others. A couple of her accomplishments during her tenure as coordinator include obtaining additional funding for Crime Stoppers of Citrus County and enhancing crime tip rewards through Google Grants and partnerships with the Florida Sheriffs Association Cold Case Advisory Board. He surrendered 14 dogs to the Citrus County Animal Shelter; three of which were in such deplorable conditions from long periods of neglect that Munn was subsequently arrested on April 18th, for three counts of aggravated animal cruelty. Crime Map for Citrus County, FL Crime Map Trends Analytics Cold Cases Missing Persons Daily Archive Burglary 11/30/2022 3:44 AM LECANTO HWY Burglary 11/29/2022 5:56 PM 2ND CT Theft 11/29/2022 3:41 PM HIGH ACRES STREET Vandalism 11/29/2022 2:32 PM GULF TO LAKE HWY Burglary 11/29/2022 1:22 PM U S HIGHWAY 41 Other 08/13/2021 6:34 AM 123 SESAME ST If you have any information about stolen property or any other crime in our county, we encourage you to contact us as 352-249-2790 or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-888-ANY-TIPS to remain anonymous. Through witness statements, deputies were able to identify the suspect as 29-year-old Daniel Arthur Redman, who was just released from prison on January 9, 2022. The National Apprehension Detail calls for agencies across the United States to participate in serving outstanding family-violence warrants. However, he broke out of the Colorado prison twice and in January 1978 he fled all the way to Florida. According to CCSO, this appears to be an isolated incident. Without a doubt, the most famous Florida serial killers include Danny Rolling, Ted Bundy, David Alan Gore, Gerard Schaefer, also known as "The Killer Cop," Aileen Wuornos, Bobby Joe Long, and "The Flat-Tire Murderer," who has remained unidentified since at least 1975. Further investigation revealed the identity to be 24-year-old Renee Rosita Harris, of Ocala. Twenty-eight reptiles (snakes, skinks, geckos, and monitor lizards) were also found to be kept in terrible conditions. (in reality an undercover agent) to kill Baskin, and was arrested in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Thank you to our citizens who contact us to investigate these types of nuisances because you are the eyes and ears helping us put criminals behind bars.. Detectives with CCSOs Tactical Impact Unit set up an undercover drug buy with Morgan, where she sold fentanyl and cocaine to detectives from her residence. Furthermore, they informed detectives she was attempting to get hired at the Lecanto Detention Facility in Lecanto, operated by CoreCivic, in a detention guard capacity to infiltrate the county jail for the purpose of bringing narcotics into the facility for monetary gain. Deputies immediately recognized the property was being utilized as a cockfighting venue and made contact with the homeowner, Mr. Jose Hernandez. In 1989, he was executed by electric chair in Florida State Prison. Kenneth Hottes (DOB 4/01/1979), Ocala, FL Knowingly Transmit Harmful Material to a Minor: F.S.S. Near the beginning of July, several sources came forward advising that Shannon Morgan was selling fentanyl and cocaine from her residence. 741.29(6). Public Schools. First responders arrived at the residence shortly thereafter and pronounced the victim deceased. What really happened to toddler Caylee is still unknown. In 2015, Detective Parsons authored a County Ordinance related to scrap metal that virtually eliminated copper thefts in Citrus County. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2e06db0f6fcac4 The parent told deputies that they had overheard the juvenile victim talking about a second juvenile victim engaging in sexual activity with Guevara. Lunsford was abducted from her home in the early morning of February 24, 2005, by John Couey, a 46-year-old convicted sex offender who lived nearby. 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. The Jessica Lunsford Act was named after her. The detectives assigned to this unit are among the most skilled and experienced investigators in law enforcement and undergo in-depth training in various forensic disciplines and other specialized training topics. 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. Your IP: Predators like Geller are the reason the detectives of the Special Victims Unit are an essential part of the Citrus County Sheriffs Office and our mission to keep this community safe. Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. 1 The Murder Of Caylee Anthony Citrus is a county located in FL, and has a population of 140,011. While working full-time, Detective Parsons earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminology at Florida State University. 847.0138(2), Attempted Lewd and Lascivious Molestation: F.S.S. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Houston was arrested for one count of 3 rd degree murder and one count of aggravated battery by a person who is being detained in a prison, jail, or other detention facility upon visitor or other detainee. The dark underbelly to life in Florida is on full display in. After initial contact with Munn reference the allegations of violating county ordinances, it was discovered that Munn was not in compliance with the size and capacity of the dogs kennels. As a result of this investigation, Cohen was placed under arrest for Aggravated Child Abuse, and is being held at the Citrus County Detention Facility without bond. We are thankful to have worked alongside him and wish him the best in retirement! (Citrus County, FL) On August 10, 2022, Community Crime Unit Detectives along with CCSO Animal Control responded to 6619 W Copenhagen St. in Dunnellon in reference to suspicion of breeding roosters for fighting. While he never reached that height of notoriety, he did. It will get you lost. To get ready for Floribama Murders, you can read up on the most infamous cases in Sunshine State history below. Today, Redman was formally arrested on the below charges and transported to the Lake Butler Correctional Facility: The immediate action and quick thinking our deputies demonstrated in this grisly situation speaks volumes to the rigorous training they undergo to serve our citizens, said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. More than 200,000 unsolved cases have gone cold since 1980, and murder clearance rates continue to drop. Total bond set at $137,000. (Citrus County, FL) Yesterday, 33-year-old Brodrick Larnell Houston of Inverness, Florida, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) for the charge of murder. The young mom initially claimed that she had dropped her daughter off with a babysitter, and that when she came back later, both were gone. (Citrus County, FL) On September 14, 2022, the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) arrested detention guard candidate, 38-year-old Shannon Marie Morgan of Inverness, at the Citrus County Detention Facility. (Citrus County, FL) On November 14, 2022, Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) Intelligence Analyst Heather Ramos was selected as the 2022 Crime Stoppers Coordinator of the Year at the Annual National Crime Stoppers Conference held in Orlando, Florida. They said they made contact with an injured 50-year-old woman inside the home. The unit coordinates and assists other organizations and departments in combating street-level drug crimes. Another resource that provides information regarding the number of unsolved homicides in each state is Project: Cold Case, which has not only provided a detailed database of many cold cases from all over the country, but also shares statistics about the many cases in the United States. Deputies immediately secured the suspect and rendered first aid, until he was transported to the hospital for medical treatment. Her sensational trial featuring her defenses scorched-earth tactics against her family was watched by around 40 million viewers. The investigation had a lot of moving parts and required a tremendous amount of coordination. In 2006, she won Silver in the singles bowling event and was part of a CCSO bowling team that took Bronze. Murders are much more common in Tallahassee, Florida, given its size and population, than in other Florida cities. Exotic lost the suit and soon owed Baskin a lot of money. Great job to our guys working out there in our community noticing the small details of an expired registration that elevated this minor traffic stop to a full blown drug bust.. Driving while intoxicated is not only illegal, it is dangerous and puts others on the road in jeopardyincluding innocent passengers like children. Bond $2,500. "With this arrest, we demonstrate our commitment to the safety of Citrus County residents. She was taken into custody in Homosassa and booked. In 1989, he was executed by electric chair in Florida State Prison. Citrus County Sheriffs Office deputies will be out in full force during the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. She was convicted and sentenced to death for six of the murders and executed by lethal injection on October 9, 2002. Over Couey's objection, the trial court ruled that all evidence collected after the confession, including the recovery of Lunsford's body, would be admitted, as would incriminating statements allegedly made by Couey to investigators and a jail guard. It disgusting that individuals like Morgan not only peddle their poison in our community, but seek to infiltrate our detention facility for the sole purpose of bringing in contraband to inmates, said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. As deputies secured Hall, she indicated that Dailey was high on methamphetamine and had a firearm in the truck. 172.105.99.84 (Citrus County, FL) This past Friday, July 15, 2022, 49-year-old Todd Raymond Geller of Crystal River, Florida, was arrested for the charge of Sexual Battery on a Person Under 18 in reference to acts that occurred over an approximate two-year span at a residence in Homosassa. (Citrus County, FL) Today, we celebrate the many accomplishments, influential leadership, and well-deserved retirement of Citrus County Sheriffs Office K9 Deputy Dale Strickland, who is officially retiring from our office after 22 years of unwavering service.