Two people are dead and another was airlifted to a trauma center after a fast-moving house fire late Wednesday night on Jeri Kay Lane. Sebring Fire Department crews arrived within minutes of the 11:22 p.m. call and found the manufactured home heavily engulfed in flames. Firefighters quickly began suppression efforts, but two occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. A third victim was found outside the home with injuries and transported for emergency treatment. The State Fire Marshal is now investigating the cause of the fire.
A Wauchula man is facing a second-degree murder charge after calling 911 to report a possible death at his home Wednesday morning. The Wauchula Police Department says officers responded just after 7 a.m. and found 18-year-old Destiny Chambers unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Hardee County Fire Rescue. Detectives determined the death was not accidental and arrested 31-year-old Joshua Gonzalez, who is now being held at the Hardee County Jail.
A violent dispute inside a residence in Fort Meade has led to the arrest of 39-year-old Donny Rimes after deputies say the confrontation escalated into a stabbing. Investigators report Rimes allegedly became aggressive, first arming himself with a golf club before later grabbing a large knife and stabbing the victim in the back of the neck. The victim managed to escape the home and was treated for the injury, requiring multiple sutures. Rimes now faces charges including attempted murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
A 21-year-old man and two minors were arrested for illegally taking and killing alligators across Manatee, Sarasota, and Hardee Counties. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the group faces 69 felony and 23 misdemeanor charges, including aggravated animal cruelty and unlawful possession of firearms. Investigators uncovered evidence from social media and began tracking the crimes back to 2023.