A judge has granted a two-month continuance in the capital murder case against Diane Mack, stemming from a child abuse death investigation in Highlands County. Her defense attorney says he needs more time to review hundreds of hours of security video collected from Mack’s home. Prosecutors say the footage documents ongoing abuse and neglect leading up to the death of Mack’s 13-year-old adoptive daughter in November 2024. Mack faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
A downtown Sebring property once home to the historic Nan-ces-o-wee Hotel has officially been removed from the city’s Historic District. City leaders approved the change to allow for a new commercial development called Sadie’s Place at 139 North Ridgewood Drive. The project will feature retail space, public restrooms, a food truck area, a splash pad, and outdoor seating. The hotel was demolished after the city acquired the site in 2020 due to major structural issues.
In Lakeland, a guy apparently declared war on neighborhood mailboxes during a joyride — and got busted huffing air duster in the middle of his own arrest. Police say the motorist ran over multiple mailboxes while driving drunk, then tried to inhale air duster gas as deputies pulled him in. Now he’s behind bars facing a stack of charges from the mailbox massacre. Authorities say the case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of impaired driving.
Talk about a self-own in Polk County. A Florida man went on a true-crime podcast to defend himself and criticize Sheriff Grady Judd — but investigators say he accidentally confessed instead. Robert Reynolds claimed he “tucked away” a missing trailer rather than reporting it stolen, and Judd says that statement helped secure a new warrant. Reynolds was later located in Plant City and now faces additional charges. Sheriff Judd’s advice? Maybe think twice before confessing on a podcast.