News Update for 1/15/25

Tuesday saw the start of The State vs. Lakenya Phillips in Highlands County. Phillips, a Kansas resident, is accused of attempted felony murder with a deadly weapon, resisting an officer with violence, child abuse and second-degree murder, after an incident that occurred in December of 2023. The incident culminated in a Highlands County Sheriff’s deputy shooting and killing Phillips’ boyfriend Richard Ham. Phillips claims that the ill-fated road trip from Kansas to Bay Blossom Drive in Sebring, was fueled by drugs and forced upon her and her 9-year-old son by Ham. Several witnesses saw the couple and child sitting for hours as well as watched them remove items, from their vehicle and later, set them on fire. When approached by deputies, Ham allegedly struck Highlands County Deputy Kevin Gentry with a metal tent stake, prompting the deployment of tasers on Ham to no avail. Court resumes at 8:30AM this morning.

All Highlands County Residents are invited to attend a Town Hall Meeting, Thursday night, January 16th. The meeting will be hosted by County Commisioner Don Elwell and will cover a range of topics including the upcoming county’s trash collection contract renewal, current & upcoming road projects and proposed economic development projects. It will also feature an Open Q&A on any county topic. Members of Highlands County’s executive team will be on hand to help answer questions and share valuable information. Prior to the free event, Elwell will be providing complimentary pizza and refreshments at 5:30pm. The meeting will be held in the University Center Auditorium at South Florida State
College in Avon Park.

A search is underway to find the driver involved in a deadly hit-and-run in Lake County. A Polk County man died after he was hit by a car Monday night on US 27 at Margaux Drive. FHP says the Auburndale resident was standing outside his disabled car when he was hit. He died at the scene. The driver took off, but troopers say a witness followed so they could get a description of the car. Investigators are looking for a white Kia Soul with Indiana plates.

Florida is expanding its efforts to increase the reporting of human trafficking. Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the expansion of the "Highway Heroes" program during a visit to an I-75 rest stop in Ruskin. The effort includes the placement of signs across Florida advertising the state’s Human Trafficking Hotline number, 1-855-FLA-SAFE. Moody says human traffickers often use Florida’s roads and interstates to not only move their victims, but also to do business at truck stops.

An incident in Polk County underscores the serious dangers of driving under the influence. That’s what Haines City Police Chief Greg Goreck said yesterday after an arrest last week. Miguel Angel Rodriguez was found in a running car passed out behind the wheel while the car was in Drive and his foot was on the brake. Police say an officer tried to wake Rodriguez but couldn’t, so the officer broke a window to put the car in park and take the keys from the ignition. The HCPD says the officer also saw 12 opened bottles of wine in the car. Rodriguez was taken to the hospital where tests showed his Blood Alcohol Level was over six times the legal limit. Goreck says that’s the highest he can remember in his career for someone who wasn’t dead. He adds he’s grateful no one was hurt. Rodriguez is charged with DUI.

A suspect in a deadly kidnapping may be able to avoid the death penalty. Kevin Ocasio-Justiniano is expected to plead guilty today in federal court to his role in a deadly kidnapping in Central Florida. A group of suspects allegedly carjacked Miami-Dade County’s Katherine Aguasviva in Winter Springs nine months ago, kidnapped her, robbed her and killed her. Her body was found in a burned car in Osceola County. By pleading guilty, Ocasio-Justiniano will get life in prison instead of the death penalty.

A teenager from Tampa has been found guilty of manslaughter and eight counts of attempted manslaughter for her role in a deadly triple-shooting in Sarasota. A jury delivered that verdict last week for 19-year-old Sha’Miya Williams in the 2022 death of a 17-year-old boy in the city’s Newtown section. A 16-year-old boy and nine-year-old girl were injured in the incident. Police say six more juveniles ranging in age from seven to 17 were in the line of fire, but were not injured. A sentencing date for Williams has not been announced yet.

Without knowing the number of undocumented students, it would affect; a Republican State Senator is proposing two bills targeting those attending state colleges and universities. Randy Fine says his Senate Bill 90 would overturn a 2014 law giving in-state tuition discounts and Senate Bill 244 that would end their acceptance at over-enrolled state schools. The bills will be submitted at the Special Legislative Session that begins Jan. 27th.

A federal proposal is trying to keep Florida manatees on the threatened species list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service introduced a measure yesterday, saying Florida manatees face threats from boats, habitat loss, and coastal development, but especially the loss of warm-water refuges. Local environmentalists have spent decades arguing that the marine mammals should be reclassified as endangered in order for them to receive more protections. State wildlife officials say 565 manatees died last year. A 60-day public comment period for the proposal is underway.