Unincorporated Lake

Mom Accused of Kidnapping 2 Daughters Fled from Louisiana State Police Before Capture

Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

LINCOLN PARISH, La.—The mom accused of kidnapping her two daughters from a Lake County foster home fled from Louisiana State Police (LSP) when they attempted stop her Friday and is now facing additional charges.

LSP troopers received information from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office that Dixie Williams, 41, may be traveling on Interstate 20 in a silver Nissan Rogue and troopers spotted the Nissan and initiated a traffic stop, just before 12:15 p.m. local time. Williams came to a brief stop on Interstate 20 westbound, east of LA-145 and then fled from troopers, according to LSP.

After a brief pursuit by LSP and Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies, a “tire deflation device” was deployed and Williams came to a stop, LSP said.

Williams was taken into custody and Tilli, 5, and Natalia, 18 months, who were not in child safety seats, were safely recovered by law enforcement. They were turned over to the Louisiana Department of Child and Family Services.

Williams is now facing two counts of kidnapping in Lake County, and numerous charges in Louisiana, including aggravated flight from an officer, operating a vehicle with a suspended license, resisting an officer, two counts of no child passenger restraint system and no seat belt use.

Previous stories: FOUND SAFE: Missing Lake County Sisters Found in Louisiana – Inside Lake

VIDEO: Suspect in Sorrento Missing Children Case Arrested in ’22, Claimed She was “Traveling” and Did Not Need a License – Inside Lake

Amber Alert Issued for Girls Missing from Sorrento – Inside Lake

Deputies Searching for Sisters Who Disappeared from Sorrento Foster Home – Inside Lake

Mom Accused of Kidnapping 2 Daughters Fled from Louisiana State Police Before Capture Read More »

FOUND SAFE: Missing Lake County Sisters Found in Louisiana

Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

LOUISIANA—A pair of sisters kidnapped from a Sorrento foster home have been found safe in Louisiana, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Louisiana authorities found Tilli, 5, and Natalia, 18 months, with their biological mother, Dixie Williams, who is now in custody on a warrant for kidnapping, LCSO Lt. John Herrell said Friday afternoon.

No other details were available at press time.

FOUND SAFE: Missing Lake County Sisters Found in Louisiana Read More »

Dixie Williams is seen here in this still shot taken from a Eustis Police Department sergeant's body cam on a traffic stop in December 2022. Williams was arrested for resisting arrest and several traffic-related offenses. VIDEO: Eustis Police Department

VIDEO: Suspect in Sorrento Missing Children Case Arrested in ’22, Claimed She was “Traveling” and Did Not Need a License

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

EUSTIS, Fla.—Inside Lake has obtained body cam video from the 2022 arrest of a woman suspected of taking her children from a Sorrento foster home.

Dixie Williams, 41, was arrested Dec. 4, 2022, by Eustis Police Department after a sergeant spotted her not wearing a seatbelt and pulled her over. After stopping Williams, EPD found she did not have a driver license and she claimed she did not need one because she was ”traveling” and not “driving.” The Michigan license plate attached to the maroon Chevy truck she was driving was not registered and as officers took Williams into custody, she threw herself to the ground and resisted arrest.

EPD body cam footage of Dixie Williams’ 2022 arrest. VIDEO: Eustis Police Department

 

 

Williams was arrested for no valid driver license, no motor vehicle registration, attaching license plate not assigned, refusal to sign a summons and resisting arrest. She was transported to the Lake County Jail and released the following day on her own recognizance. The case is still open.

Williams is suspected of taking Tilli, 5, and Natalia, 18 months, from their Sorrento foster home late Thursday. At press time there was an active Amber Alert for the two girls. If you have information on their whereabouts, call 911.

Previous stories: Amber Alert Issued for Girls Missing from Sorrento – Inside Lake

Deputies Searching for Sisters Who Disappeared from Sorrento Foster Home – Inside Lake

VIDEO: Suspect in Sorrento Missing Children Case Arrested in ’22, Claimed She was “Traveling” and Did Not Need a License Read More »

Amber Alert Issued for Girls Missing from Sorrento

Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

SORRENTO, Fla.—An Amber Alert has been issued for two children missing from Sorrento.

At 7 a.m. Thursday, the foster mother of Tilli and Natalia Williams reported the girls missing from her home at 23419 Companero Drive in Sorrento. She told the Lake County Sheriff’s Office she last saw the girls at 11 p.m. Wednesday, according to LCSO Lt. John Herrell.

According to the Amber Alert, the girls may be in the company of Dixie Williams, 41. Williams is described as a white female, 5 feet, 2 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes, and weighs approximately 200 pounds. She is also known to use the last name “Stumpner.”

 

Tilli Claire Williams

Tilli is 5 years old, 3 feet, 5 inches tall, approximately 45 pounds, with long, straight brown hair and was last seen wearing gray or navy-blue pajamas with multi-colored hearts.

Natalia Williams

Natalia is 18 months old, 2 feet, 5 inches tall, approximately 30 pounds, with short, brown curly hair and was last seen wearing a pink pajama gown and pink pants with hearts.

If you have information on the girls’ whereabouts, call 911.

Tilli and Natalia Williams

Amber Alert Issued for Girls Missing from Sorrento Read More »

Tillie and Natalia Williams

Deputies Searching for Sisters Who Disappeared from Sorrento Foster Home

Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

SORRENTO, Fla.—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a pair of young sisters who disappeared from their Sorrento foster home overnight.

At 7 a.m. Thursday, the foster mother of Tillie and Natalia Williams reported the girls missing from her home at 23419 Companero Drive in Sorrento. She told LCSO she last saw the girls at 11 p.m. Wednesday, according to LCSO Lt. John Herrell.

“Lake County Sheriff’s detectives are on scene and actively investigating. Detectives are looking into the possibility that the juveniles are with their biological mother and father, or if they have any information,” Herrell said in an email.

It is unknown how or when the girls left the home.

Tillie Claire Williams

Tillie is 5 years old, 3 feet, 5 inches tall, approximately 45 pounds, with long, straight brown hair and was last seen wearing gray or navy-blue pajamas with multi-colored hearts.

Natalia Williams

Natalia is 18 months old, 2 feet, 5 inches tall, approximately 30 pounds, with short, brown curly hair and was last seen wearing a pink pajama gown and pink pants with hearts.

If you have information on the girls’ whereabouts, call 911.

Deputies Searching for Sisters Who Disappeared from Sorrento Foster Home Read More »

Tyler Evans, right, was killed in a crash early Saturday morning near Eustis. He is pictured here with his sister Bria. PHOTO: gofundme/In Loving Memory of Tyler Evans

Umatilla Man Killed in Early Morning Crash Identified

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By

EUSTIS, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol has confirmed the identity of the man killed after he crashed into a tree Saturday morning.

Tyler Evans, 27, of Umatilla, was driving a 2016 Nissan Versa northbound on County Road 439 near Dairy Road in unincorporated Eustis when he lost control, left the roadway and struck a tree around 5:15 a.m., FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said.

Evans was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford, where he was pronounced deceased. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

According to a gofundme created to benefit Evans’ family, Tyler loved music and spent many years playing drums in his church youth group. He also loved planes and was taking flying lessons. He grew up in Lake County with his sister Bria, and his parents, Jeremy and Amy also grew up in Lake County.

“Tyler will be missed by many,” the gofundme states.

At press time, the fundraiser had raised $6,050 of its $15,000 goal, to donate visit In Loving Memory of Tyler Evans.

Umatilla Man Killed in Early Morning Crash Identified Read More »

Florida Highway Patrol

Umatilla Man Killed after Losing Control of Car and Crashing into a Tree

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By

EUSTIS, Fla.—A Umatilla man was killed before daylight Saturday morning after losing control of his car and striking a tree, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The 27-year-old man was driving a 2016 Nissan Versa north on County Road 439 near Dairy Road, in unicorporated Eustis, shortly before 5:15 a.m. when he lost control for an unknown reason, left the roadway and struck a tree, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said. The man was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford, where he was pronounced deceased.

The crash closed County Road 439 for more than five hours and remains under investigation, Crescenzi said.

Umatilla Man Killed after Losing Control of Car and Crashing into a Tree Read More »

Courtesy photo

Single-Vehicle Crash Takes Out Wall in Eustis Neighborhood Early Monday

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

EUSTIS, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate a single-vehicle crash that took out a wall in a Eustis neighborhood early Monday morning.

A 32-year-old Sorrento man was driving a 2014 Jeep Compass westbound on State Road 44 near Estes Road when he lost control, ran off the road and crashed into a wall at the Brookshire neighborhood just before 2 a.m. Monday, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi told Inside Lake.

A resident of Brookshire, who wished to remain anonymous, told Inside Lake the damage to the wall is estimated at $50,000. The Sorrento man was not injured, and the crash remains under investigation, Crescenzi said.

Single-Vehicle Crash Takes Out Wall in Eustis Neighborhood Early Monday Read More »

Lake County Schools to Follow Wednesday Schedule in Anticipation of Severe Weather Tuesday, After School Activities Canceled

Astatula, Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills, Inside Scoop, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Mascotte, Minneola, Montverde, Mount Dora, Tavares, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—Lake County Schools will follow Wednesday schedules on Tuesday in anticipation of severe weather, according to an LCS spokesperson.

“Severe thunderstorms are in the forecast for tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024) in Lake County, particularly in areas on the northern end. In an effort to get as many students home before the worst of the storm begins, Lake County Schools will follow our Wednesday early dismissal schedule on Tuesday,” LCS Communications Coordinator Sherri Owens said in an email Monday night.

LCS will excuse weather-related absences and all after school outdoor activities are canceled. Extended Learning Centers (ELC) will be open, Owens said.

Lake County Schools to Follow Wednesday Schedule in Anticipation of Severe Weather Tuesday, After School Activities Canceled Read More »

File photo

Pedestrian Killed Near Leesburg Wednesday Morning

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Unincorporated Lake / By

LEESBURG, Fla.—A pedestrian walking in the road was struck and killed in Leesburg Wednesday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Around 6:30 a.m., a 63-year-old Leesburg man was driving a 2020 Volkswagen Passat eastbound on Griffin Road near Pioneer Trail when he struck a 55-year-old Leesburg man who was walking in the eastbound lane of Griffin Road, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said.

The pedestrian was transported to UF Health Leesburg Hospital and pronounced deceased; the driver of the Passat was not injured. He remained on scene and told troopers he did not see the man walking in the road. The crash remains under investigation, Crescenzi said.

Pedestrian Killed Near Leesburg Wednesday Morning Read More »

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