MOUNT DORA, Florida—A “major investigation update” in the deaths of a Mount Dora couple is scheduled for mid-Tuesday afternoon, according to City of Mount Dora Spokesperson Vershurn Ford.
Mount Dora Police Department released little new information Monday, though they told reporters and the public, the names of the victims would be released late Monday after a meeting with the victims’ family. They were not released. Inside Lake has known the couple’s identity since Saturday night, but will not publish the couple’s names until they are officially released.
Mount Dora officials held a townhall meeting late Monday morning to reassure residents they were safe, but three-year resident Fran Wishnick, 70, does not agree, “That feels like a stretch,” she told Inside Lake outside Monday’s meeting.
She said she does agree with some details of the investigation being held back, but reassuring people they are safe when no one is in custody does not make sense to her. “Just stop telling us everything is OK,” she said.
In Sunday’s press conference and again at Monday’s townhall meeting, Gibson called the incident a “homicide investigation” but stopped short of calling it a double murder, 40 hours after the bodies were discovered.
Wishnick’s sentiments echo many of the comments made on social media since Inside Lake broke the story, including, “Ummm…There’s a murderer on the loose, but DON’T WORRY! You’re safe!! Not buying it!!!” commenter Shannon Cook said, “Their precious, quaint little historical tourist trap is at risk!!!”
Other residents who wished to remain anonymous reached out to Inside Lake to express their frustrations with the lack of information being given. It is highly unusual for an agency to refuse to release whether a death investigation is a double murder or a murder/suicide; it is also highly unusual for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to be involved in a city police department’s murder investigation.
Gibson announced Monday the Crimeline reward is $10,000 and encouraged anyone with information about anything suspicious on Friday or Saturday, to call 1-800-423-TIPS.
