Umatilla

Orlando man convicted of Umatilla murder, sentenced to life in prison

TAVARES, Fla.—One of the men accused of murdering a Umatilla man in 2022 will spend the rest of his life in prison, according to Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson’s Office.

“The actions of this defendant were calculated, deliberate, and devoid of remorse,” said Walter Forgie, Chief Assistant State Attorney. “Justice demands accountability for such actions.”

Antwain “Lil Daddy” Hart was murdered in Umatilla in 2022. One of three men suspected of his murder was convicted Thursday and sentenced to life in prison. PHOTO: Hart Family

Undray Benson, 53, of Orlando was found guilty in the first-degree murder of Antwain “Lil Daddy” Hart, 31, Thursday following a bench trial, and he was sentenced to life in prison by Judge James Baxley. Only Inside Lake was on the scene Nov. 8. 2022 after Hart was found shot multiple times in his mother’s front yard on Merrell Avenue in Umatilla. Hart died during transport to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. John Herrell told Inside Lake the day of the murder.

Hart’s rental vehicle, a 2022 white Jeep Cherokee, was stolen at the time of his murder and found about 12 hours later behind the First Church of God Eustis, 1550 North Highway 19, by Eustis Police Department officers. The church is just 3.7 miles from the murder scene. The investigation revealed an unknown white Mercedes was spotted near Merrell Avenue and LCSO detectives obtained surveillance footage that showed a rented white Mercedes linked to Marvin Ellison, near the murder scene and Hart’s dumped rental vehicle. Phone records also indicated a route consistent with the crime scene and the victim’s vehicle’s location.

Antwain Hart was shot and killed in his mother’s yard on Merrell Avenue in Umatilla Nov. 8, 2022.  PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake

Detectives also obtained video of three individuals unloading the white Mercedes into an apartment leased by a family member of Benson, associated with “Dray’s Spot Detailing,” and an additional suspect, Deandre Anderson, was identified through that footage. Drugs and a 9mm handgun, which matched the weapon used to kill Hart were found during the search of the apartment. Detectives determined through evidence and their investigation, Undray, Anderson and Ellison collaborated to murder Hart, possibly motivated by the presence of illegal narcotics in the victim’s vehicle, according to Gladson’s office.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Benson about five months after Hart’s murder and by July 2023, Anderson and Ellison were also in custody. Assistant State Attorneys Gabe Lozano and Nicholas Camuccio prosecuted Benson and he was represented by Attorney Jeffrey Pfister of Tavares. Anderson and Ellison are scheduled to stand trial next week.

Orlando man convicted of Umatilla murder, sentenced to life in prison Read More »

Cold weather shelter and warming station scheduled to open this week

EUSTIS, Fla.—A cold weather shelter and warming station are scheduled to open this week in anticipation of colder temperatures, officials with Lake County government announced late Monday morning.

According to the U.S. National Weather Service, lows in Lake County are expected to be between 33 and 38 degrees between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The cold weather shelter is scheduled to be open from 5 p.m. to 7.a.m. Monday through Friday at LifePointe Church, 2551 East Orange Avenue, Eustis; and the Salvation Army will open a warming station from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 2605 South Street, Leesburg. Residents who need transportation to the shelter or the warming station can call Lake County Connection at 352-742-2612 to make arrangements.

Graphic: U.S. National Weather Service

To sign up for cold weather text updates from Lake County government, text COLD to 888-777. Faith-based and nonprofit organizations that would like to provide sheltering assistance are asked to call Lake County Emergency Management at 352-343-9420.

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BREAKING NEWS: Santa Claus is coming to town

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—At press time Christmas Eve, the jolly fellow best known as Santa Claus was last spotted in Lithuania and had delivered more than 3 billion gifts, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD.)

Little boys and girls 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.

BREAKING NEWS: Santa Claus is coming to town Read More »

Argument about infidelity leads to shooting in Altoona

ALTOONA, Fla.—An argument about infidelity left one man shot and sent another to jail Thursday afternoon, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Shortly before 4:15 p.m. Thursday, LCSO responded to 19331 East Altoona Road on a report of a verbal altercation, and when a deputy arrived, he found James Andrew Carroll 48, lying on his side suffering from a gunshot wound to his lower torso. The deputy rendered aid to Carroll until EMS arrived and Carroll was airlifted to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. His condition is currently unknown, LCSO Lt. John Herrell told Inside Lake.

Carroll’s girlfriend, Shana Cottle, told LCSO Carroll was working on her vehicle when she pulled up to the home with John Cornelius Devereaux in a white Toyota Camry. Carroll began yelling vulgarities at Cottle and Devereaux, believing Cottle was being unfaithful and demanding she get out of the car, according to an affidavit.

Devereaux, 61, pulled out a silver revolver and Cottle got out the car and ran. She then heard Carroll yelling he had been shot and as she returned to the area, Carroll told Devereaux to leave. Cottle yelled at Devereaux to give her back her bag and leave. Devereaux gave her the bag and left, and she went to Carroll to check on him, according to the affidavit.

Deputies located Devereaux, who is homeless, about a mile away at a Circle K gas station and took him into custody. Deputies located the revolver and extra ammunition in the Camry and Devereaux had more than $3,000 cash in the vehicle. He told deputies the money was from his deceased mother, the arresting deputy noted in the affidavit.

Devereaux was arrested for attempted murder and is now facing an added charge of failure to provide DNA. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.

Argument about infidelity leads to shooting in Altoona Read More »

Affidavit: Man accused of child sex crimes admits misdeeds in texts, controlled phone call and interview

UMATILLA, Fla.—A 29-year-old man who has ties to Eustis and Umatilla is in the Lake County Jail on no bond accused of multiple sex crimes against children.

Arsenio Quinones, who lives in Umatilla, but has a Eustis mailing address, was arrested by a Lake County Sheriff’s detective Thursday after agreeing to meet with the detective at a home in Umatilla and admitting he committed sex crimes against two separate juvenile victims, according to a heavily redacted arrest affidavit.

Both victims’ names, ages and addresses are redacted from the affidavit to protect their identities.

In October 2023, victim one reported Quinones had touched her in a sexual manner at least six years ago and she had text messages between her and Quinones proving her allegations. She showed law enforcement the messages where she asked Quinones why he had manipulated her into doing sexual things with him. He reportedly responded, “There’s no reason or excuse…I’m telling you this stays in my head about wtf happened. I don’t just live myself forgetting and leaving it in the past…I hate who I was and I wish I can either end it or do whatever it is I need to do to make it better. I know you don’t care about me and what I have to say. But I am genuinely sorry for putting you through that and destroying any time of image you have of me and life. You didn’t deserve it and shouldn’t have been taught…”

The victim told her family what allegedly happened, and she gave a second victim a case number to contact law enforcement. Victim one told the detective there may have been a witness to the abuse of victim two.

Victim one was contacted at a “later date” by an LCSO detective, and she described the abuse in detail; Inside Lake is not including the details in this story, due to their graphic nature.

Victim one made a controlled phone to Quinones Wednesday, and she confronted him about the abuse she said lasted four to five years. Quinones apologized multiple times and victim one mentioned victim two and Quinones reportedly stated the abuse was “not forced.” A controlled phone call is an arranged call made between a victim and a suspect, monitored and recorded by law enforcement.

Victim two told the detective two different abuse incidents occurred at two different homes, and the first incident occurred in either 2016 or 2017. She said Quinones asked her if she would be his girlfriend and then touched over and under her clothes. During the second abuse incident, Quinones took the abuse much further, she told the detective in detail.

Following the interviews with both victims and the controlled phone call, the LCSO detective went to the home of Quiniones’ mother and gave his number to her so Quinones could contact him. He called the detective a brief time later, and the detective went to a home in Umatilla to speak with him in person and, according to the affidavit, Quinones told the detective victim one was curious, so they engaged in sexual activity. He said he did not think it happened as much as victim one said it did, but she “may have been correct.”

Quinones then admitted to sexual activity with victim two, and said he did not force either victim. Quinones was arrested for two counts each of sexual battery on a victim under 12 and lewd or lascivious battery, victim 12 to under 16: three counts of lewd or lascivious molestation on a victim 12 to under 16, sexual battery on a victim 12 to under 18 and lewd or lascivious molestation, victim under 12. He was transported to the LCJ, where he remains on no bond.

Affidavit: Man accused of child sex crimes admits misdeeds in texts, controlled phone call and interview Read More »

Umatilla motorcyclist killed, another seriously injured after wrong-way driver causes late night crash

EUSTIS, Fla.—A wrong-way crash killed a 20-year-old man and sent a 41-year-old man to the hospital shortly before midnight Saturday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A 49-year-old Eustis man was driving a 2017 Dodge Ram 2500 westbound in the eastbound lane of State Road 44 when he struck a 2024 Harley-Davidson Sportster head-on, near Hammond Lane. The 20-year-old rider was killed; a second motorcyclist, a 41-year-old man riding 2003 Suzuki VL800K, swerved and laid the bike down on the roadway, FHP said.

The 20-year-old Umatilla man was pronounced deceased on the scene, the 41-year-old man, also of Umatilla, was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Ram was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.

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Lake County prepares for Helene

Publisher’s note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.— Tropical Storm Helene, expected to make landfall Thursday as Hurricane Helene, is expected to bring wind and rain to Lake County and residents should finish storm preparations by Wednesday afternoon. How to get information and sandbags, along with closures are listed below.

 

Citizens Information line: 352-253-9999

AlertLake Notification System: sign up at https://alertlake.com/ or text ALERTLAKE to 888777

 

Closures:

Butler Street Boat Ramp, 55400 Butler Street, Astor, 5 a.m. Wednesday

City of Eustis, Thursday

City of Groveland, Thursday

Lake County Board of County Commissioners, Thursday

Lake County Schools, Thursday

Lake-Sumter State College, Thursday

Pearl Street Boat Ramp, 25140 E. Pearl Street, Astor, 5 a.m. Wednesday

Sandbag locations

All locations are self-service, bring your own shovel.  

Clermont

(Former public services facility, adjacent to West Park,) 400 12th St., Clermont, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday

Eustis

Eustis Fire Station 22, 100 West Norton Ave., Eustis, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday

Groveland

Lot next to 310 Crittenden St., Groveland, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday

Leesburg

Susan Street Complex, 940 Susan St., Leesburg, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday

Mascotte

161 Knight St., Mascotte, 8 a.m., to 5 p.m. Wednesday

Mount Dora

Frank Brown Sports Complex, 1245 East Pine Ave., Mount Dora, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting

Unincorporated Lake County

All locations open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, weather permitting

East Lake Sports and Community Complex, 24809 Wallick Rd. Sorrento

North Lake Regional Park. 40730 Roger Giles Rd., Umatilla

Astor Fire Station 10.23023 State Road 40, Astor

Minneola Athletic Complex, 1300 Fosgate Rd. (13930 Education Ave.) Minneola

PEAR Gateway Park (Front Entrance,) 26701 U.S. Highway 27, Leesburg

Four Corners Fire Station 112, 16240 CR 474, Clermont

Hickory Point Recreation Complex, 27315 State Road 19, Tavares

 

 

Waste collection

Groveland, Thursday pickup will shift to Friday, Friday pickup will shift to Saturday

Montverde, pickups are canceled Thursday and will resume Monday.

Lake County Office of Solid Waste, Thursday pickup will shift to Friday, Friday pickup will shift to Saturday

 

 

 

 

Lake County prepares for Helene Read More »

BREAKING NEWS: Lake County Schools closed Thursday

TAVARES, Fla.- Lake County public schools will be closed Thursday due to Tropical Storm Helene, which is expected to be a hurricane when it makes landfall, according to Lake County Schools.

After-school activities on Wednesday are not cancelled and a decision will be made about Friday following Wednesday’s mid-day briefing, LCS said.

BREAKING NEWS: Lake County Schools closed Thursday Read More »

LCSO Master Deputy Bradley Link to be honored with run Wednesday night

TAVARES, Fla.—Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link is scheduled to be honored Wednesday night by a young man who will run his 1,550th mile in support of fallen first responders.

Zechariah Cartledge founded Running 4 Heroes Inc., a non-profit organization in 2019, to raise funds for fallen first responders. Cartledge is scheduled to run the mile at 8 p.m. Wednesday, at Tavares Middle School, 13032 Lane Park Cutoff Road, Tavares. Attendees are asked to arrive between 7 and 7:30 p.m.

LCSO Master Deputy Bradley Link to be honored with run Wednesday night Read More »

VIDEO: Hundreds of people line U.S. Highway 27 in support of fallen deputy Monday morning

LEESBURG, Fla.—Hundreds of residents, law enforcement officers and firefighters lined U.S. Highway 27 to pay their respects and show their support for Master Deputy Bradley Link and his coworkers at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Monday morning.

Residents stood in the rain along the 15-mile trek from Leesburg to Minneola, waving flags and saluting Link as he was transported to the funeral home handling his arrangements, bringing tears to the eyes of deputies and residents alike.

 

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