A Highlands County Jury reached a unanimous verdict of Guilty of second-degree murder Thursday morning in the case of Johntravious Perry. Perry was accused of murdering his 16-year-old cousin Dre’Sean Williams after an egg fight turned violent. Williams was shot and killed at an Avon Park car wash on December 1st 2020. Security videos and eyewitness phone videos captured the crime but Perry left the scene and was not found for 18 months. A called in tip led to his arrest on his 26th birthday. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 6 at the Highlands County Courthouse.
Authorities believe two suspects tied to a national theft ring are likely in Central Florida. Two men, both named Marius Dumitru, are facing charges in connection to "Operation Thou Shall Not Steal." The investigation led to the arrest of six people who were accused of stealing more than 700-thousand dollars from more than 680 churches around the country. The group of Roman nationals was taken into custody in 2021 with the Dumitru men running off before their trial. The FDLE believes the suspects could be in the Orlando area. The four co-conspirators in the case have recently been convicted.
The Florida Board of Education is expected to vote on whether high school student-athletes could financially benefit from endorsement deals next week. Officials are scheduled to take up a Name, Image, and Likeness rule change that was approved by the state High School Athletic Association last month. Under the measure, student-athletes and their caregivers would be able to negotiate NIL contracts independent of their schools. They could also hire a registered agent to help with the process. The state board of education is set to consider the proposal while meeting in Orlando next Wednesday.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is getting ready to debut its newest attraction this weekend. The Phoenix Rising will take visitors on a 44 miles-per-hour rollercoaster ride designed to look like wings. Park officials say the ride is meant to pay homage to the old ride it replaced, known as the Phoenix, that operated as a swinging boat. The new attraction took more than a year to build. It will officially open to park-goers on Sunday.
The qualifying period for the 2024 Avon Park Municipal Election will be opening up on Monday at 8:00AM. The period will end Friday, August 2nd, at 5:00pm. Three incumbent councilmembers, all completing their first terms, are up for re-election. Councilmembers Michelle Mercure, Brittany McGuire, and Berenice Taylor are running for their current seats against seven other individuals that have recieved candidate packets. All individuals interested in running must legally qualify as an elector in Avon Park as well as pay filing and Election Assessment Fees. For more information on requirements and how to qualify please visit the City of Avon Park’s website or call City Hall at 863-452-4400
The search for a missing child is at a sad end in Orange County. The sheriff’s office announced yesterday the body of three-year-old Rakim Akbari was found in a body of water. Rakim had autism. He went missing after wandering off at the Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas at Lake Buena Vista. The sheriff’s office writes on X and Facebook we’re grieving his loss, and our detectives are still looking into how this tragedy occurred.
Florida is ranked among the bottom-performing states in terms of women’s health and reproductive care in the U.S. The New York-based Commonwealth Fund compared states based on 32 measures of health care access, affordability, quality of care and health outcomes. Florida ranks 39th overall. Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire are the top performing states for protecting women’s health. Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma and Arkansas are at the bottom of the rankings.
The University of Central Florida will give a businessman and philanthropist one of its highest recognitions. Rosen Hotels announced yesterday hotelier Harris Rosen will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Public Service Degree during next month’s summer commencement. The decision was made last month after a unanimous vote by the UCF Board of Trustees. UCF’s College of Hospitality Management is named after Rosen. The school’s dean says Rosen taught her how modest beginnings can translate into hard work and how doing the right thing for his associates and company can transcend people’s lives.