A Highlands County man involved in the case surrounding a deadly 2025 rollover crash has been arrested again — this time over alleged threats sent by cellphone. Deputies say Gabriel Monroe Kennedy showed up at an ex-girlfriend’s Sebring home, refused to leave at first, then allegedly returned minutes later, prompting her to run to a neighbor’s house. Investigators say Kennedy later sent threatening messages. He’s now charged with making electronic threats to cause bodily harm.
The Florida Supreme Court is considering whether Zephen Xaver’s five death sentences should be overturned in the 2019 Sebring bank murders. Xaver’s attorney argued Thursday that he wasn’t fully informed of his rights before pleading guilty, and that too little weight was given to mitigating factors, including his mental health history and a brain tumor. The state says Xaver knowingly and voluntarily pleaded guilty. A ruling is expected in the coming weeks.
UF/IFAS Extension is offering a Green Industries Best Management Practices course September 23rd in Sebring. The training covers environmentally safe landscaping practices and is required by Florida law for commercial fertilizer applicators. Participants who pass the test receive certification and can earn four CEUs. The course runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Bert J. Harris Jr. Agricultural Center. Pre-registration is required.
A Polk County jury has convicted 44-year-old Shaun Paul Runyon of killing three coworkers at a Davenport rental home in 2021. Prosecutors say Runyon bought a crossbow with plans to kill the men, but ultimately used a baseball bat instead. He was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. The jury will now consider whether to recommend the death penalty, with that phase beginning Wednesday.