Florida's Recent News

ORLANDO, Fla. – A Florida woman faces multiple animal cruelty charges after authorities said they rescued neglected animals from her residence in DeLand. Ashley Taryn Boucher, 37, was arrested Monday on 20 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and eight counts of confinement of animals without adequate provisions for food, water, or exercise. The charges stem from the deplorable conditions discovered at her home on 318 E. Beresford Ave., investigators said. Responding to a well-being check prompted by a concerned visitor, deputies said

SANFORD, Fla. – Authorities are still actively seeking the individual responsible for shooting a teenage girl just days before her 18th birthday, leaving her in critical condition as she fights for her life in the hospital. The victim, Layla Bennett, remains hospitalized, and her condition is dire after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. The incident, characterized as a drive-by shooting, occurred Monday evening while Bennett and another teenager were standing in front of a residence on Scott Drive

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Police officers in Broward County arrested a man for allegedly exposing himself to a minor. According to an arrest report, Fort Lauderdale police officers were contacted by a woman who said she hired a man to clean her vehicle and her home. Police said the woman told them the suspect, since identified by officers as 61-year-old Gary Bernard Burke, exposed himself and masturbated in front of her 8-year-old daughter. According to the arrest report, the woman’s

The man accused of shooting and killing a man near Roberto Clemente Park in Fort Myers is scheduled to be in court today. Fort Myers police detectives arrested 34-year-old Tanorish Jones in April. According to the Fort Myers Police Department, police responded to a call about an assault. When they arrived, they found a man shot in front of a home. Officers said the victim was taken to the hospital but did not survive Jones has a criminal history and

ST. PETERSBURG — A man who told police his girlfriend hanged herself has been charged with first-degree murder in the woman’s death. Police said Gregory Shinn, 48, called police about 11:27 p.m. Feb. 20 to report he had found the body of his domestic partner hanging in their garage. He claimed she committed suicide. Detectives said they later determined that there was a history of domestic violence in the relationship and that there were inconsistencies in Shinn’s statements. Police said

CLEARWATER — Police discovered a body in a car that burned in the early morning of May 1 at a Clearwater hotel in what investigators believe was a suicide. Police officers and Clearwater Fire & Rescue responded to a car fire at the Edge Hotel, 505 S. Gulfview Blvd., about 2:30 a.m. After firefighters put out the fire, the victim was found inside. Police said it appears an adult male not from this area set the car on fire and

PLANT CITY, Fla — Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies shot a man who was allegedly banging on the window of a prayer center in Plant City and threatening to kill people. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a prayer center at the 2900 block of South Frontage Rd in Plant City around 2:30 a.m. When deputies arrived, they saw a man armed with some kind of metal object outside the center. Deputies started to attempt to

Josefina Cardona-Cardona accused of trying to hire hitman to kill 2 witnesses in son’s case LAKE WORTH, Fla. – A South Florida mother was arrested Monday, nearly two years after her then-14-year-old son was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Josefina Cardona-Cardona, 43, tried to hire a hitman to kill two cooperating witnesses in her son’s case. Authorities said undercover agents met up with Cardona-Cardona on multiple occasions during which time she

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Clearwater Police have made two arrests in this case. The updated story is here. Clearwater Police detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify two suspects who beat up a teenager and stole his bicycle. The incident occurred May 1 just before 7 p.m. and started at Fort Harrison Avenue and Chestnut Street when the teen nearly collided with a gray Nissan SUV in the gas station parking lot. Two men in the SUV followed the

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 31-year-old man has been accused in the death of a 20-year-old Jacksonville woman, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. On Nov. 4, 2023, JSO responded to a battery with injuries call on North Pearl Street in the Tallulah/North Shore neighborhood. That’s where officers found Veronica Brown unresponsive outside a home. Brown was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. JSO said after investigating, Corey Martin was identified as the main suspect

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 31-year-old man has been accused in the death of a 20-year-old Jacksonville woman, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. On Nov. 4, 2023, JSO responded to a battery with injuries call on North Pearl Street in the Tallulah/North Shore neighborhood. That’s where officers found Veronica Brown unresponsive outside a home. Brown was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. JSO said after investigating, Corey Martin was identified as the main suspect

PORT ORANGE, Fla. – A man has been arrested for shooting and killing another man in the Southern Pines neighborhood of Port Orange on Tuesday night, police said. Santiago Carlos Hernandez-Castrodad, 40, of Edgewater, was taken into custody on a second-degree murder charge, the Port Orange Police Department said in a news release. Shortly before 7:30 p.m., officers responded to Elda Lane and Spruce Creek Road regarding a shooting. When they arrived, they found a man – later identified as