UMATILLA, Fla.—Three people are behind bars and $50,000 worth of drugs are off the streets following a search warrant at a Umatilla home early Wednesday, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Acting on Crimeline tips and complaints, LCSO’s SWAT team, along with detectives from LCSO, Clermont Police Department, Eustis Police Department, Leesburg Police Department, Mount Dora Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security wrapped up a six-month long investigation Wednesday with the execution of the search warrant at 38945 Pine St., in unincorporated Umatilla.
Law enforcement detained three people found inside the home, Robert Donaldson, 46, Joana Silva, 22, and Lashonda Gaston, 44. Donaldson and Silva are engaged, according to LCSO.
Upon searching the home, law enforcement found a large amount of powder and crack cocaine, weighing about 1.5 pounds, along with an ounce of fentanyl in pill form and 7 pounds of marijuana, with a combined street value of $50,000. The fentanyl pills were stamped with a handicap symbol, LCSO said; a stolen gun and $10,000 in cash were also found.
PHOTOS: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Donaldson, who was already on probation for possession of drugs and resisting arrest in a 2021 case, was arrested for trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in fentanyl, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, manufacturing cocaine into a cocaine base, possession of drug paraphernalia, and ownership, lease, rental, or possession of a residence for trafficking in or manufacturing a controlled substance; he is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.
Silva, who was caught trying to flush crack down the toilet, was arrested for tampering with evidence, trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in fentanyl, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacturing cocaine into a cocaine base, possession of drug paraphernalia and ownership, lease, rental, or possession of a residence for trafficking in or manufacturing a controlled substance; she is being held in LCJ on $561,000 bond.
Gaston was arrested for trafficking in fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; she is being held In LCJ on $20,000 bond.
LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—At press time Christmas Eve, the jolly fellow best known as Santa Claus was last spotted in Greenland and had delivered more than 5 billion gifts, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD.)
Little boys and girls (who should be in bed) can track the big guy’s movements online as he makes his way across the world with his trusty reindeer crew, by visiting NORAD Tracks Santa.
NORAD began tracking Santa in 1958 after taking over the duty from the U.S. Air Force.
MOUNT DORA, Fla.—A Sanford man already on probation for upskirting women at a Sanford Walmart last year is accused of masturbating in a busy Mount Dora store, fleeing and being tackled in the parking lot by Mount Dora Police Department Sunday afternoon.
According to an arrest affidavit, MDPD responded to Dollar Tree, 16930 U.S. Highway 441, around 4:45 p.m. on a report of a man exposing himself. The victim told an officer she saw a man, later identified as Jensen Alexander, 35, exposing himself and recording himself masturbating as she stood in the background reaching for items on a shelf. She said Alexander was still in the store and described the clothes he was wearing, including a black knit hat.
The officer began looking through the store and as he approached the checkout, customers began telling him Alexander ran and pointed to the west side of the store. The officer walked toward that side of the store and spotted the “top of a tall person’s head over the aisle shelving, which was black in color like a knit hat,” the affidavit states. According to booking records, Alexander is 6 feet, 4 inches tall.
The officer told Alexander he was being detained and as he tried to secure Alexander, he began resisting, broke free and “sprinted” toward the exit. The officer struggled with Alexander as they went through the door, and he tackled Alexander in the parking lot. They continued to struggle, and a second officer pulled up and assisted the first officer with getting Alexander cuffed, according to the affidavit.
After being taken into custody, Alexander told the victim he “was just trying to pee,” and she reportedly said, “That’s what you get for showing me your penis,” the affidavit states.
Both Alexander and the responding officer were treated for their injuries at a local emergency room and after Alexander was cleared, he was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $10,000 bond.
In August 2022, Alexander was arrested by Sanford Police Department after Walmart video surveillance captured Alexander upskirting women in two different areas of the store. In January of this year, he pleaded guilty to video voyeurism and was sentenced to 18 months probation, a psycho-sexual evaluation and recommended treatment, and 50 hours of community service. He also agreed to allow probation to search any electronic device he has access to at any time, without a warrant, according to Seminole County Clerk of Court online records.
OCALA, Fla.—A cell phone seized from Brett Baldwin in the case of his missing wife Nicole Baldwin contained 31 images and videos of naked children and children being sexually abused, according to a federal criminal complaint obtained by Inside Lake.
Neighbors awoke to the sound of flashbangs before daybreak Thursday morning as authorities swooped in on his mother’s house on County Road 134B near Wildwood in Sumter County and took him into custody on a federal warrant for possession of child pornography. He was later booked into the Marion County Jail, where he is being held on no bond.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
According to the complaint, “On November 28, 2023, detectives with the Mount Dora Police Department seized an iPhone 14 cell phone…from the person of its owner Brett Baldwin while executing a search warrant at his residence in Mount Dora, Lake County, Florida. The phone was seized in furtherance of a missing person investigation.”
Numerous agencies have been involved in the case of Baldwin’s missing wife, including Mount Dora Police Department (MDPD), Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO,) Seminole County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE.)
Upon searching the phone, FDLE found 31 files containing child pornography that included children described as “less than 2 years old and less than 3 years old.” DHS took over the case and warrant for Baldwin’s arrest was issued.
MDPD has not commented on Baldwin’s arrest and has remained tight-lipped about its investigation into Nicole Baldwin’s disappearance. DHS believes he was preparing to flee Florida.
The DHS complaint states, “Baldwin has made it known that he is moving to Waynesville, North Carolina in the very near future. Baldwin has recently moved from Mount Dora, FL to his mother’s home in Wildwood, FL with his 11-year-old daughter and his 13-year-old son. He has yet to enroll his children in a school making it evident that this move out of the state of Florida will take place.”
Nicole Baldwin, 41, was last seen Nov. 2 and reported missing Nov. 5 from her home in Mount Dora. She is considered “missing endangered” and is described as a white female, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 135 pounds, with brown and (dyed) blonde hair, and hazel eyes. If you have information on Baldwin’s disappearance, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
WILDWOOD, Fla.—The husband of missing Mount Dora mom Nicole Baldwin is in the Marion County Jail on a federal hold, according to information obtained by Inside Lake.
Brett Baldwin, 43, was booked into the Marion County Jail at 12:19 p.m. Thursday on a federal hold for possessing obscene material and is being held on no bond. Inside Lake is working on getting details about his charges.
Baldwin’s wife, Nicole, has been missing for more than a month and it is unclear if these charges are related to her disappearance; Mount Dora Police Department has not commented on the arrest.
Brett Baldwin was taken into custody early Thursday morning after a search warrant was executed at his mother’s house near Wildwood, sources told Inside Lake. Sumter County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Michelle Keszey told Inside Lake SCSO assisted Mount Dora Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security with a search warrant Thursday morning, but it was not SCSO’s case.
Law enforcement converged at a home on County Road 134B, Wildwood before daybreak Thursday and three flash bangs could be heard along with the announcement of the search warrant, according to sources. Brett Baldwin was taken from the scene in handcuffs and later booked into the Marion County Jail.
WILDWOOD, Fla.—The husband of missing Mount Dora woman Nicole Baldwin was taken into custody early Thursday morning after a search warrant was executed at his mother’s house near Wildwood, sources told Inside Lake.
Sumter County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Michelle Keszey told Inside Lake SCSO assisted Mount Dora Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security with a search warrant Thursday morning, but it was not SCSO’s case.
Sources told Inside Lake law enforcement converged at a home on County Road 134B, Wildwood before daybreak Thursday and three flash bangs could be heard along with the announcement of the search warrant. A busted window at the home could be seen from the street following the search. Sources also said Brett Baldwin was taken from the scene in handcuffs.
It is unclear if he has been arrested or if this search warrant is related to his missing wife. At press time, he was not booked into the Lake County Jail or the Sumter County Jail.
MOUNT DORA, Fla.—A reward is now being offered for information leading to the whereabouts of missing mother Nicole Baldwin.
Mount Dora Police Department announced the reward of up to $5,000 on its social media pages Tuesday morning; Baldwin, 41, was reported missing Nov. 5 and was last seen Nov. 2 at her home on Strathmore Circle in Lancaster at Loch Leven in Mount Dora. MDPD detectives have remained guarded about their investigation into the disappearance of the mom of three, but there has been a flurry of law enforcement activity at the home since Nov. 28. MDPD detectives, uniformed officers and Lake County Sheriff’s Office crime scene investigators have been at the home several times removing items and multiple sources have told Inside Lake vehicles and electronics have also been taken as possible evidence in the case. The Baldwin family has since moved out of the home, because their lease was up, Baldwin’s oldest daughter, Alisha told Inside Lake.
Two community searches, spearheaded by Terri Rogers, have been conducted since Baldwin went missing, but neither search turned up anything, Rogers told Inside Lake. The most recent search was Sunday afternoon, followed by a candlelight vigil. Only Inside Lake has been covering the case for nearly a month and was the first to interview Alisha nearly a month ago. Alisha attended both searches and the vigil Sunday and told Inside Lake she just wants her mom home.
Alisha Baldwin, right, preparing candles for a vigil held for her mother, Nicole Baldwin, 41, Sunday. Baldwin has been missing since Nov. 2. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake
Baldwin, 41, is considered “missing endangered” and is described as a white female, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 135 pounds, with brown and (dyed) blonde hair, and hazel eyes. If you have information on Baldwin’s disappearance, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for the reward.
MOUNT DORA, Fla.—Saturday marks one month since anyone has seen missing Mount Dora mom Nicole Baldwin and a community search and candlelight vigil are planned for Sunday.
Baldwin was last seen Nov. 2 at her home on Strathmore Circle in Mount Dora after celebrating her oldest daughter Alisha’s 20th birthday, Alisha told Inside Lake last month. Alisha was on the scene Tuesday as investigators searched the home nearly all day and removed what may be evidence in the disappearance of the mother of three.
Sources told Inside Lake Mount Dora Police Department towed Baldwin’s husband’s car Tuesday as possible evidence, and took electronics, including multiple cell phones before the Baldwin family moved out of the home on Strathmore Circle in Lancaster at Loch Leven this week, and investigators were back at the home Friday after the family moved out.
On Friday, investigators with Mount Dora Police Department were back at the home where Nicole Baldwin was last seen. COURTESY PHOTO
Tipsters have reached out to Inside Lake with theories and suspicions about people close to Baldwin and Inside Lake asked MDPD about some of the tips, but MDPD has remained tight-lipped and not released many details, citing an “active and ongoing investigation.”
MDPD began investigating Baldwin’s disappearance Nov. 5 when she was reported missing and multiple personal items of Baldwin’s were left at the home when she disappeared, including her phone, Apple watch, purse, debit card and all her shoes and she did not have her car, Alisha told Inside Lake earlier this month. A man Baldwin was dating was in possession of her car after her disappearance and he brought the white Chevy Cruze back to Alisha when she demanded he return it, Alisha said. Last month, the Cruze was seen in the driveway of the home on Strathmore Circle with what appeared to be evidence tape on the trunk and doors.
There has been no activity on Baldwin’s social media accounts and loved ones have not heard from her since Nov. 2.
A Facebook group, Help Find Nicole Baldwin started by Terri Rogers has grown to more than 400 members and Rogers is organizing the search and candlelight vigil planned for Sunday. Rogers never met Baldwin but was compelled to help as she continues to agonize with unanswered questions about the disappearance of her niece, Tonya Lee Whipp in Polk County. Whipp, 38, was last seen in Auburndale sometime between May 28 and June 1, but she was not reported missing until June 29, according to Auburndale Police Department.
A community search organized by Rogers is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday and searchers are being asked to meet at La Gracia Baptist Church, 19650 State Road 44, Eustis. Participants may encounter rough terrain and should wear appropriate clothing and shoes to join in the search. A candlelight vigil is scheduled to be held following the search, and Rogers has been working all week gathering milk jugs that will hold candles and feature a photo of Nicole. She plans on using the jugs to line the sidewalks leading to the Strathmore Circle home to symbolize lighting a path, “so she can find her way home,” Rogers told Inside Lake.
Baldwin, 41, is considered “missing endangered” and is described as a white female, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 135 pounds, with brown and (dyed) blonde hair, and hazel eyes. If you have information on Baldwin’s disappearance, call MDPD at 352-735-7130.
MOUNT DORA, Fla.—Three years ago, Mount Dora was rocked by the double murders of two beloved store owners who were staples in the community and the identity of the person or people responsible for their murders remains a mystery.
Minh “Tina” Nguyen, 47, and Khiem “Ken” Ba Trinh, 56, were shot around 9 p.m. Nov. 30, 2020, at their popular store, T & N Market, 1345 North Grandview Street, just a few blocks from Mount Dora Police Department. The couple was found behind the counter suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and Nguyen was pronounced dead on the scene. Trinh was airlifted to a Sanford hospital where he succumbed to his injuries just a few days later on Dec. 3, 2020.
Mount Dora Police Department released two surveillance videos showing the gunman’s movements; one was from an outside camera that showed a single gunman running across the parking lot and accosting Trinh at his gray Honda minivan and forcing him back into the store at gunpoint and later shows the gunman fleeing the building and parking lot. A second video from inside the store shows the suspect—dressed in all black—arguing with the couple and fleeing the store. The suspect’s voice can be heard in the second video and when it was released, then-Interim Chief Brett Meade asked the public to watch and listen carefully to help identify the killer. Video of the actual shooting was not released to the public.
Dozens of people attended a candlelight vigil and balloon release held at the store the day after the shooting and a block party was held in their honor several days after the murders. The store, a staple in the northeast community of Mount Dora, had been in business for more than 30 years and many of its patrons frequented the store since they were children. Today, the storefront is empty.
The couple was well-liked in the community they served; numerous people expressed their sorrow on social media in the days following the tragedy. They left behind two sons, Ryan and Vincent.
A reward of $10,000 was offered for information leading to an arrest quickly after the murders occurred, and is still available, three years later, but MDPD has never received the information it needs to make an arrest. MDPD Det. Gary Hutcheson said the key to solving the case is someone coming forward with what they know.
Inside Lake recently sat down with Hutcheson in a face-to-face interview to get an update on the case.
Mount Dora Police Detective Gary Hutcheson PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake
Rumors have swirled for years, and several sources have told Inside Lake—as far back as just a few weeks after the murders—that a man well-known to Lake County law enforcement was responsible for the heinous crime. That man is currently serving a lengthy federal prison term for a gun charge, stemming from a case in another Lake County city. Inside Lake directly asked Hutcheson if he was the culprit.
“He was interviewed as part of this case, but I’ve never had enough probable cause to say he did it,” Hutcheson said. Inside Lake is not naming the man because he has not been charged in this case.
Based on the investigation, police believe the motive was robbery and a lack of physical evidence has been a major barrier in solving the case. It is unknown why the perpetrator murdered the couple in addition to the robbery, especially when he had completely disguised his appearance.
“He (the suspect) was covered head-to-toe, gloves, face mask, full head covering, all black. We don’t have any DNA nor touch DNA,” Hutcheson explained. Police did recover shell casings and projectiles but will not release the caliber of the gun. Tests have been performed on the evidence they do have, and surprisingly, does not match any other crimes MDPD is aware of.
There was no indication something like this might occur in the months leading up to the murders. There was a “neighborhood youth” the couple was apparently having some problems with, Hutcheson said, but there is not enough evidence to charge or clear the youth.
MDPD has received information that a getaway vehicle was waiting on Gorham Street, just one block from the store but police have never been able to verify it, Hutcheson said. There were no cameras on Gorham Street, but the exterior camera at T&N Market does show the suspect running through and out of the parking lot at an angle toward the area of Gorham Street following the crime.
Hutcheson said police have released all the information and evidence they can at this point. They do have persons of interest and have investigative leads they just cannot release because it is information only the police and the perpetrator or perpetrators would know. Releasing information too early could damage their case.
Hutcheson said cases like this are a joint effort and he appreciates the support he gets from other agencies. “I have to give a lot of kudos to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Every time we get a homicide, we give them a call and they show up in force,” Hutcheson said. “We couldn’t work these cases without their help.”
Mount Dora Police Department investigates after Minh “Tina” Nguyen, 47, and Khiem “Ken” Ba Trinh, 56, were shot around 9 p.m. Nov. 30, 2020, at their popular store, T & N Market, 1345 North Grandview Street. PHOTO: MDPD
In the months following the murders, the was a lot of community chatter about who may be responsible, but no one has ever given MDPD the information they need to close the case. Hutcheson said he has chased down leads when he hears someone may know something, but some people have just refused to speak with him. “We’re going to need somebody to come forward.”
“There are people in this community and the surrounding communities that I know, know something about this case and they’re just not coming forward,” Hutcheson said. “I know the persons of interest in this case have spoken to people and made admissions. We just have to get those people to come forward and tell us. If somebody directly tells somebody that they did something, we can use that.”
If you have information on the murders of “Ken and Tina,” call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Callers may be eligible for the $10,000 reward and can remain anonymous.
MOUNT DORA, Fla.—In its quest to find a missing mom, Mount Dora Police Department conducted a search at the home Tuesday where she was last seen.
It has been nearly a month since anyone has seen or heard from Nicole Baldwin, a mom of three, who was last seen Nov. 2 after celebrating her oldest daughter, Alisha’s’ birthday. MDPD has stayed tight-lipped since Baldwin was reported missing and Tuesday’s search is “part of their investigation,” City of Mount Dora Spokesperson Misty Sommer told Inside Lake.
Mount Dora Police Department began investigating Baldwin’s disappearance Nov. 4 when she was reported missing, and Tuesday morning MDPD was at her home, along with multiple crime scene investigators from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Nicole Baldwin
Baldwin’s personal belongings were left at the home, including her phone, Apple watch, purse, debit card and all her shoes and she did not have her car, Baldwin’s daughter, Alisha told Inside Lake earlier this month. Alisha stood across the street from her home Tuesday, as investigators searched and she told Inside Lake earlier this month, loved ones have not heard from Baldwin and there has been no activity on her social media accounts.
Baldwin, 41, is considered “missing endangered” and is described as a white female, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 135 pounds, with brown and (dyed) blonde hair, and hazel eyes. If you have information on Baldwin’s disappearance, call MDPD at 352-735-7130.
