LEESBURG, Florida—The Lake County Sheriff’s has released the identity of the man found dead in a home in Leesburg Wednesday morning, but still has not released any details about what may have happened.
Jamari DeAndre Jones, 20, of Summerfield in Marion County, was found dead in the home at 804 Montclair Road in unincorporated Leesburg around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday and Jammy Casteel, 41, was found shot on the front porch of the home, by LCSO deputies who were responding to a report of a shooting, LCSO Lt. John Herrell said.
Casteel, who lived at the home, was transported to UF Health Leesburg, where he succumbed to his injuries.
PHOTO: Jammy Casteel/Facebook
“This was not a random act of violence. Detectives believe the unidentified subject was brought to the home in a vehicle that fled the scene before law enforcement arrived,” Herrell said in a press release Wednesday.
LCSO does not have a description of the vehicle that fled the scene. There were signs of forced entry to the front door and detectives have not ruled out a home invasion, Herrell told Inside Lake.
If you have information, call LCSO at 352-343-2101 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers may be eligible for a reward.
CLERMONT, Florida—A man was arrested Saturday for neglect of an elderly disabled person after he left his wheelchair-bound grandmother without help in deplorable conditions, according to an arrest affidavit.
Michael Dale Plant’s grandmother called the Lake County Sheriff’s Office twice Saturday morning and reported Plant had not come home the night before. The woman, who suffers from dementia and recently been released from the hospital, told LCSO she feared something may have happened to Plant responder her home. Deputies made entry into her home due to her being immobile and in a wheelchair, the affidavit states.
When a deputy entered the home, “I was hit with the foul odor of animal urine and the smell of feces. I observed (the victim) in a wheelchair in the center of the living room with her right arm in a black medical arm sling,” the arrested deputy noted in the affidavit.
PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
The victim requested the deputy pick up a pill bottle that was on the ground because she was unable to retrieve it and had been pushing it around with her foot all morning, according to the affidavit.
The victim said Plant had not come home the night before and she did not have anyone to help her use the bathroom, shower, change her clothes or make food. LCSO attempted to call Plant, but he did not answer, and the deputy was unable to leave a message, according to the affidavit.
“While in the residence, I observed all the rooms in the residence to be cluttered with dirt, dust, rotten food, spider webs, spiders, cockroaches, ants, maggots and bedbugs. The kitchen sink was filled with dirty dishes, however, there was running water. Upon opening the fridge, many cockroaches scurried out of food dishes and onto the floor. While looking in (the victim’s) bedroom, I observed feces on her sheets, spider webs and spiders all over her bed and bedside furniture as well as animal feces on the floor,” the deputy stated.
PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Plant arrived at the home while LCSO was on scene and said his grandmother had fallen and been in the hospital and later rehab before she was released to go back home. Plant said he called his grandmother and told her he would not be late but did not come home because he drank too much. Plant admitted he had not helped her change her clothes or shower since she had been released from rehab. He also said he knew the living conditions were bad, but they were much worse before his grandmother was released.
LCSO notified the Department of Children and Families and three goats, and three cats were removed from the residence by Lake County Animal Control.
Plant was placed under arrest and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $2,000 bond.
LEESBURG, Florida—Two people are dead following a shooting early Wednesday morning, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. John Herrell.
LCSO responded to a report of a shooting around 4:30 a.m. at 804 Montclair Road and found an injured male on the front porch of the home, Herrell said in a press release.
A second person was found dead inside, “…And at least one person, at this point, has been found deceased inside the home,” Herrell said.
The injured male was transported to UF Health Leesburg, where he succumbed to his injuries.
LCSO had not released the identities of either person or any other information at press time. If you have information, call LCSO at 352-343-2101 or Crimes at 1-800-423-TIPS.
EUSTIS, Florida—A woman driving a stolen car called 9-1-1 as she followed the pair of teenagers she accused of robbing her at knifepoint late Sunday night and Lake County Sheriff’s deputies arrested all three of them.
Hannah Hofmann, 20, called Eustis Police Department and said she was following the two males who robbed her at a home on Goose Prairie Road in unincorporated Leesburg. Hofmann said she was staying at a friend’s house and asked Jacob Riley Belanger, 18, and Christopher Sanders, 17, to help her bring her belongings into the home from her vehicle, according to an arrest affidavit.
The trio made a second trip to Hofmann’s vehicle, and she stated she had about $2,000 in her console in $100 denominations, and Belanger and Sanders allegedly pulled out knives and demanded Hofmann give them the money; she handed over the cash and the pair ran from the home. Hofmann followed the pair and to County Road 44 and Emeralda Island Road where they were picked up by a vehicle at a gas station by Belanger’s mother and another man, according to the affidavit.
Jacob Belanger, left, was arrested for the armed robbery of Hannah Hofmann, right. Hofmann was arrested for grand theft auto.
Hofmann followed the vehicle into the City of Eustis where it was pulled over by EPD. Belanger was searched and found with $1,100 in $100 bills. He told deputies and officers his mother gave him $800, and the rest came from a check and a birthday present; Belanger turned 18 the day prior to the incident. Belanger said he did know the victim but had seen her a few times and that Sanders was trying to date her. He said Hofmann was attempting to get him to ride with her so she could turn herself in on a warrant she believed she had and that she had been robbed and wanted him to go to a motel in Leesburg with her.
Sanders refused to talk to law enforcement and requested a lawyer.
While investigating the incident, LCSO found that Hofmann was driving a vehicle reported stolen from Marion County.
Belanger and Sanders were arrested for armed robbery with a deadly weapon. Sanders was turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice and Belanger was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $25,000 bond. Hofmann was arrested for grand theft auto and also transported to LCJ where she is being held on no bond due to a retainer.
LEESBURG, Florida—A 20-year-old Orlando man is facing five counts of child neglect and DUI after he was pulled over for speeding late Saturday night.
A Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy was parked in the median on U.S. Highway 27 near Plantation Boulevard shortly before midnight Sunday, according to an arrest affidavit. The deputy observed a vehicle traveling 83 mph in a 55-mph zone and quickly turn when the deputy turned on his headlights. The vehicle turned around in an open grassy area and reentered the roadway without its headlights on.
The vehicle continued down the road in the wrong direction and pulled into a parking spot after the deputy activated his emergency lights; the driver, Marques C. Denis, quickly got out of the vehicle and ignored the deputy’s commands to get back in the car. Denis then walked toward the deputy and was secured. The deputy immediately could smell alcohol on Denis and after backup arrived, the deputy found that Denis had six passengers in the vehicle—five of whom were children, ages 17, 9, 8 and two 14-year-olds and a half-empty bottle of E&J Brandy VS.
Denis agreed to perform field sobriety exercises and following the exercises he was arrested for DUI, three counts of domestic child neglect and two counts of child neglect. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $6,000 bond.
SORRENTO, Florida—An alleged road rage incident landed a Sorrento man in jail Thursday after he was accused of waving a gun in traffic and punching a car.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office received several calls reporting the incident around 4:45 p.m. near the intersection of State Road 44 and County Road 437. The victim told LCSO he was westbound on State Road 44 approaching County Road 437 when he traveled into the turn lane for County Road 437. He changed his mind and decided to stay on State Road 44 and waited for a break in traffic, according to the arrest affidavit.
When the victim saw a break, he began to move back onto State Road 44 and a grey SUV, being driven by Kyle Edward Rabuck, 48, got in right behind him, then traveled into the opposite turning lane, passed him and began merging into the victim’s car, forcing him into the median, the affidavit states.
The victim stopped in the median, let a few vehicles pass and reentered traffic and got into the turning lane for Sorrento Springs, a neighborhood and golf course near the intersection. A truck in front of him slammed on the brakes and the victim told LCSO he believed the grey SUV was in front of the truck and slammed on its brakes first. Rabuck, the driver of the SUV, then exited the vehicle and approached the victim with his fists balled up, according to the affidavit.
The victim got out of his car and there was a confrontation between him and Rabuck; Rabuck is alleged to have retrieved a gun from his SUV and pointed it at the victim and the victim pulled away. The victim stopped next to the SUV to get the license plate information and Rabuck again approached him with the gun and punched the car window with the gun, the affidavit states. Most of the incident was captured on video by the victim.
LCSO identified Rabuck as the driver of the SUV and went to his house to interview him. He told LCSO he did have his firearm during the incident but did not point it at the victim or threaten him. He was arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm and improper exhibition of a firearm, and then admitted he pointed the gun at the victim but did not remember punching the car window.
Rabuck was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $3,000 bond.
CLERMONT, Florida— Two more charges were added Wednesday, increasing his bond to $100,000, to a man accused of raping an 18-year-old student last week as she walked to her bus stop.
Brian Terick Wilkerson, 18, of Clermont is facing a charge of attempted kidnapping and assault with intent to do violence, in addition to sexual battery, kidnapping and false imprisonment charges he was originally arrested for on Monday by Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives.
Wilkerson is accused of raping a woman as she walked to her school bus stop at Carrington at Four Corners apartments in unincorporated Clermont around 6:20 a.m. Jan. 19. Wilkerson covered the teenager’s mouth, dragged her to the third floor of a building and forced her to perform a sex act, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Later the same night, another woman reported a man grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth, she screamed, and the man ran away. A third victim told LCSO she arrived home from work at 9:22 p.m. and as she walked to her door, she heard footsteps behind her. She said a black male was running towards her with his hands up and she screamed, causing him to run away.
On Jan. 20, the apartment complex provided high-definition video from the incident involving the first victim and detectives were able to track the suspect’s movements in a Suzuki Forenza that is registered to Wilkerson, who lives just a half of a mile from the complex where all three incidents took place. Other videos show the Forenza was in the complex during each attack, the affidavit states.
LCSO began surveillance on Wilkerson Thursday and followed him back to the apartment complex where they observed him driving through and parking several times. He “appeared to mimic the movements of females observed walking in the apartment complex,” the affidavit states.
Wilkerson was taken into custody Monday and remains in the Lake County Jail on $100,000 bond.
CLERMONT, Florida—A man accused of raping an 18-year-old student Wednesday as she walked to her bus stop has been arrested just five days after the attack.
Brian Terick Wilkerson, 18, of Clermont is facing a charge of sexual battery, kidnapping and false imprisonment after he was identified as the man who raped one victim and accosted two more, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The first victim told police she was walking to her bus stop at Carrington at Four Corners apartments in unincorporated Clermont around 6:20 a.m. Wednesday when a man, later identified as Wilkerson, approached her from behind, put his hand over her mouth and dragged her to the third floor. He forced the victim to perform a sex act and later ran away.
Video surveillance showed the victim walking along a building and a person walking in the opposite direction passes her, then turns around, grabs her from behind and both are seen entering the stairwell; both can be seen leaving in opposite directions a few minutes later.
The same night, LCSO received a report from a second victim who said, shortly before 9 p.m. she was walking in the same apartment complex and a man grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth. She screamed and ran up a flight of stairs and he followed her until she screamed again, and he ran away, according to the affidavit. Video surveillance in that incident showed the victim going up the stairs, followed by the male and then a woman screaming.
LCSO received a third report that night from the opposite side of the apartment complex. The female victim told LCSO she arrived home from work at 9:22 p.m. and as she walked to her door, she heard footsteps behind her. She said a black male was running towards her with his hands up and she screamed, causing him to run away.
On Thursday, the apartment complex provided high-definition video from the incident involving the first victim. LCSO detectives were able to track the suspect’s movements and he is seen arriving and leaving the complex in a Suzuki Forenza. After running the tag, LCSO found Wilkerson is the only registered owner and lives with his grandmother just a half of a mile from the complex where all three incidents took place. Other videos show the Forenza was in the complex during each attack, the affidavit states.
LCSO began surveilling Wilkerson Thursday and at one point followed him back to the apartment complex. He drove through and parked several times and “appeared to mimic the movements of females observed walking in the apartment complex, the affidavit states.
On Monday detectives performed a “trash pull” at Wilkerson’s home; if any evidence was found, it was redacted from the affidavit. A warrant was issued for Wilkerson’s arrest, and he was picked up shortly before 5 p.m. Monday. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on $45,000 bond.
CLERMONT, Florida—A man who claimed he stole a car and broke into a home because he believed he was drugged at a bar is facing a trio of felonies after residents of the burglarized home detained him and called the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Early Saturday morning, LCSO responded to a report of a stolen car at McDonald’s, 16832 Corner Center Drive, Clermont and found that the victim left his car running in the parking lot. A man, later identified as Larry Lopez-Santana, 35, was captured on video at 2:15 a.m. walking up to the red Ford Focus, getting in and backing out before taking a left turn onto U.S. Highway 27, according to an arrest affidavit.
A Spanish-speaking deputy was summoned to the scene for translation assistance and located the stolen car, unoccupied, in the area of Markham Drive.
Just 35 minutes later LCSO received a report of a burglary in progress at a home on Markham Drive in unincorporated Clermont and when they arrived, they found Lopez-Santana detained by the homeowner. The homeowner said Lopez-Santana tore a locked to screen door to enter the patio and struck a sliding glass door with a metal chair, shattering the glass. Several people were in the home sleeping, including an infant who is less than 3 weeks old, according to the affidavit.
LCSO took Lopez-Santana into custody and found the keys to the stolen car in his pocket; he told deputies he was at a bar on U.S. Highway 27, and he believed his drink was drugged. He left the bar and walked to the McDonald’s parking lot where he believed he was being chased by people from the bar, the affidavit states.
Lopez-Santana admitted he stole the car, left his hoodie near the gate of the neighborhood where he was found and went to the house he broke into. Lopez-Santana was transported to the Lake County Jail where an Oxycodone pill was found in his sock. He is facing charges of grand theft auto, burglary of an occupied dwelling and introduction of contraband into a detention facility. He is being held on $18,000 bond.
LEESBURG, Florida—A man is in the Lake County Jail facing a charge of aggravated stalking after being accused of harassing and antagonizing his neighbor more than a month after he was served with an injunction.
Matthew Lenord Dailey, 61, is accused of doing a host of things to his neighbor since Dailey was served with an injunction on Dec. 6, including placing a sign in his yard that stated “28 feet” with an arrow pointing toward the measurement, according to an arrest affidavit.
The victim told Lake County Sheriff’s deputies Dailey follows him up and down the fence line that separates their property in the Bassville Park area, “whistling and attempting to antagonize him.”
On Saturday, Dailey was revving his engine in his van and blaring his music for 45 minutes as the victim spoke with an elderly couple in his driveway, the victim told LCSO. He said Dailey plays his music “extremely loud” every night and shines his flashlight to cause problems, in addition to standing at the fence line and photographing the victim’s wife when he hears her come outside.
The victim said Dailey cut down shrubs so he could watch the victim and the victim installed a privacy fence, but Dailey stands on things to peer over the fence. LCSO spoke with Dailey and observed multiple spotlights and loud music coming from his home. Daily was taken into custody and arrested for aggravated stalking. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on $10,000 bond.
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