Tavares

Tavares Woman Seeks Justice — Refuses To Let Her Sister’s Recent Murder Become A ‘Cold Case’

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.

Tavares, Florida — “Somebody knows something.”

Amy Harris wants justice.

Harris’ younger sister, Melissa Nease, 29, was found murdered in her secluded Ocklawaha home in Marion County the afternoon of Feb. 28, by a family friend, Harris told Lake Legal News Monday.

Nease, a 2010 graduate of Tavares High School, was home alone while her boyfriend and three children were out of town when she was shot and killed by two unknown individuals. Marion County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case. MCSO has released very little information in the young mom’s murder; a small clip of a surveillance video from Nease’ home the day of her murder was released March 11, but there has not been any new information since.

“Unfortunately, we do not have any new information to give out. Detectives are following up on any and all leads that have come in on this case,” MCSO Public Information Officer Sgt. Paul Bloom told LLN in an email. 

Nease did have cameras with flood lights outside her home, Harris said. The video released by MCSO shows a man in a hoodie, skull cap and mask running from the home and tripping over a chair. At one point the masked man looks directly into the camera. The flood lights may distort the person’s image, but Harris believes someone knows who he is and is urging them to come forward.

PHOTO: Facebook / Melissa Marie; Marion County Sheriff’s Office

Harris told LLN the house her sister shared with her boyfriend, Jeremy “Shane” Jenkins at 68 Guava Pass Drive was very secluded, and only has two neighboring houses, one of which is empty. Jenkins is offering a $20,000 reward in the case, Harris said.

The intruders entered and left through the back of the home and Harris finds it strange that the family dogs— one a pit bull— did not deter them from entering her sister’s home. The dogs were crated, but Harris believes the barking alone would have deterred most people.

“You had to know this house to be able to get into it,” Harris said. “It’s out in the middle of nowhere.”

Harris, who went to and graduated college with her little sister, cannot understand why someone would murder her. “It’s not adding up,” she said Monday, more than three weeks after the senseless murder. Since nearly a month has passed already, Harris is concerned the case may become cold. “I refuse to let that happen,” she said. Harris described her sister as “prissy, funny and bubbly” and a “spitfire.” Nease had a heart of gold she said, and “loved and trusted everybody.” “If I could say anything about my sister— she was meant to be a mom,” Harris said. “Three babies are without their mother.” Nease had two daughters, ages 10 and 2 and an 8-year-old son. Nease was always working on school projects with her kids and Harris’ kids, as well. “She was the PTA [type] mom,” Harris fondly says of her sister. 

Harris said she will not rest until her sister’s killers are caught. “I’m trying to rattle whoever did it.”

If you have information on the murder of Nease, call MCSO Det. Daniel Pinder at (352) 368-3508 or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Marion County Crime Stoppers at (352) 368-STOP (7867) and reference 21-20 in your call.

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Breaking The Glass: LCSO Makes History With First Female Captain

The following story was published under a different headline in another publication.  

LEESBURG, Florida — History was made Wednesday as longtime Lake County Sheriff’s deputy Christie Mysinger was appointed as the first-ever female captain at LCSO at a ceremony at Leesburg High School. 
LCSO Sheriff Peyton Grinnell is the first sheriff to appoint a woman to his command staff. 
“It’s history in the making, “ Grinnell told Lake Legal News. He said he chose Mysinger for a number of reasons, including her college education and her ability to think outside the box. “She has excelled in everything she has been assigned to,” he said. “She thinks outside the box, she doesn’t hesitate; that’s important to me because I learn from my employees.” He noted how well she supervised the school resource unit and how important school safety is, along with forging into the unknown with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Mysinger, a 30-year veteran, rose through the ranks in her career, starting at LCSO when she was just 20 years old. At 20, Mysinger looked so young, someone once reported her to LCSO for driving her “dad’s patrol car,” she remembers with a laugh.

Becoming a captain was one of Mysinger’s goals from the start of her career and being appointed the first female was something she never envisioned.
“It is both an honor and a huge responsibility. Not only am I being given the opportunity to forge a new path, but I also have the responsibility of being a role model for the many young women who are just beginning their careers in law enforcement.” 
Mysinger has served in numerous different capacities at LCSO, including road patrol, field training officer, mounted patrol, community services, public information officer, DARE and most recently as lieutenant in the school resource unit — her third time in the unit. She served first as a deputy, later as a sergeant and finally as lieutenant. 

“Every time I came back to the unit, I was a higher rank,” Mysinger told LLN earlier this week.”
Mysinger will now serve as captain over support services, emergency management bureau, aviation and communications.

Grinnelll gave a small speech to his deputies and attendees and said how blessed they are to work in Lake County — a county that is so supportive of law enforcement. He thanked all of his deputies for “holding the ‘thin blue line,’” and said, “All of you make me look good.” 

Mysinger was joined by 21 other deputies who were also promoted Wednesday, Todd English and Skott Jensen were appointed to major; Russ Edwards, Michael Marden, Mysinger and Shawn Vance were appointed to captain; Cameron Crews, Fred Jones, Tim O’Brien and Bill Reed were promoted to lieutenant; Tim Beary, Sandi Chessher, Jasen McCormick and Billy Walls were promoted to sergeant and Brandon Barnard, Joe Brocato, Austin Chandler, Richard Dolen, Adam Kelly, Charles Pendergrass, Todd Rowley and Jarrod Strickland were promoted to corporal. Captain positions and above are appointed by the sheriff, lieutenant positions and below are earned through testing and an interview.  

Major Chris DeLibro announced each deputy’s name and they walked across the stage to get their certificate and pose for a photo with Grinnell. Newly-promoted Lt. Fred Jones stopped in the middle of the stage, pointed out towards the crowd and yelled, “I love you, mama,” which drew cheers and applause from the audience and it was an extra special day for newly-appointed Capt. Michael Marden, Wednesday was also his birthday and DeLibro led the audience in a rendition of the “Happy Birthday” song.

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State Announces It Will Not Be Able To Prosecute Lake County Armed Meth Trafficking Case

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.

TAVARES, Florida — A man who was found with a cache of drugs in August following a search warrant at his home has been released from the Lake County Jail after all his charges were dropped Tuesday.

Manocher “Manny’ Francis Rafi, 49, was arrested Aug. 27, after Tavares Police searched his home at 909 Maplewood Street and found a safe that had 58 grams of methamphetamine, 28 grams of marijuana, 17 bags of cocaine and a box of ammunition, according to his arrest affidavit last year. Also, in the home, TPD found a loaded pistol, three scales, a pipe and an MDMA pill.

Rafi was facing seven charges from the time of his arrest, including armed trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of MDMA, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony and possession of drug paraphernalia and was being held on $146,000 bond.

In September, there was an “Announcement of No Information” on his possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge because he was also charged with armed trafficking, which would be double jeopardy, according to the document. On Tuesday, the remaining six charges were dropped, according to a document filed by the State Attorney’s Office. In the “Nolle Prosequi” document filed by Assistant State Attorney Kristalle Smoller, the document states the charges were dropped due to “arrest/search/investigative issues.”

“There was a technicality with the search warrant,” TPD Lt. Sarah Coursey told LLN Wednesday.

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