The Latest Local News

A jury has delivered a majority vote recommending death for Zephen Xaver, who admitted to killing five women in a Sebring SunTrust bank in 2019. After 3 hours of deliberation, the vote for the death penalty was 9-3. That number is enough to recommend death under a new Florida law that only requires eight jurors Continue reading

Two people have been charged in connection with the death of a 3-month-old girl in Avon Park. The child’s mother, Sabrina Denise Watson, has been charged with negligent manslaughter of a child, two counts of child neglect, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug equipment. Gwendolyn L. Wyche, a legal guardian, has been charged with Continue reading

Day nine of the Zephen Xaver penalty trial saw a host of experts brought in by the defense team in order to present plausible mitigating circumstances to the jury. The defense is working to help Xaver avoid the death penalty and get life without the possibility of parole. Licensed Psychologists Dr. James Garabino and Dr. Continue reading

Day 8 of Zephen Xaver’s sentencing trial began with debate over juror misconduct allegations. The state attorney’s office said it was notified about texts sent between a juror and a friend about them being on the jury. A motion from the defense for mistrial was dismissed after Judge Angela Cowden determined the behavior did not Continue reading

A man is dead after a shooting in Polk County. It happened yesterday in Lake Wales on West Northside Drive. The sheriff’s office says there was an argument that led to the shooting, but no details were released. A man is in custody, and deputies say he has an extensive criminal history. His identity has Continue reading

Emotional victim impact statements from the family members and friends of the five women Zephen Xaver killed were given on Friday in Xaver’s penalty trial. The State has rested its case against Xaver and the defense will now present their case. The jury will decide if Xaver will get the death penalty or life without Continue reading

Jurors in the Zephen Xaver penalty trial started Thursday morning off by hearing testimony from Imani Davis, on-again and off-again girlfriend of Xaver. Davis said she met Xaver sometime between 2014 and 2015 online. Around 2018, Davis and Xaver broke up and lost communication but on the day of the murders, Xaver reportedly resumed contact Continue reading

On Day two of the sentencing trial of Zephen Xaver, jurors heard testimonies from witnesses who were inside and outside the Sebring SunTrust bank during the 2019 massacre. Ben Wysokowski, a former SunTrust Bank teller, was called to the witness stand and said that he was on his lunch break when he heard gun shots. Continue reading

A Polk County woman is accused of robbing the place she used to work. Lakeland Police announced yesterday that Iesha Williams was arrested for robbing the McDonald’s where she used to work on South Florida Ave. Police say she wore a mask, but employees recognized her anyway. She was found about half-an-hour later and arrested. Continue reading

Three weeks of painstaking juror qualification wrapped up on Friday for the Stephen Xaver sentencing trial. Friday afternoon concluded with the successful selection of 14 jurors. Xaver pled guilty and was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder. The sentencing trial is set to begin this morning more than 5 years after the execution style Continue reading