Inside Scoop

PHOTO: Florida Highway Patrol

Motorcyclist Struck by 8 Vehicles after Falling from Bike near Clermont, FHP Says

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

CLERMONT, Fla.— A 26-year-old Kissimmee man was killed Sunday night after he fell from his Kawasaki motorcycle and was struck by eight vehicles on U.S. Highway 27, near Clermont, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Around 6:20 p.m. Sunday, the motorcyclist was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 27 near Frank Jarrell Road when he lost control, fell from the bike, and landed in the center lane, FHP Trooper Migdalisis Garcia said in a press release.

The rider was then struck by eight vehicles that were traveling behind him, including a Chevrolet Trax, a Nissan Armada, a Toyota Camry, a Chevrolet Silverado, a Ford Escape, a Toyota Corolla, a Nissan Pathfinder and a Dodge Challenger. The drivers of all eight vehicles did not see him, Garcia said.

The motorcyclist was pronounced deceased on the scene; none of the occupants of the eight vehicles that struck him were injured, Garcia said. FHP originally stated the crash involved the motorcycle and two vehicles, but the investigation later revealed the crash involved a total of nine vehicles.

Previous story: Motorcyclist Killed in 3-Vehicle Crash near Clermont Sunday Night – Inside Lake 

Motorcyclist Struck by 8 Vehicles after Falling from Bike near Clermont, FHP Says Read More »

PHOTO: Florida Highway Patrol

Motorcyclist Killed in 3-Vehicle Crash near Clermont Sunday Night

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

CLERMONT, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol is on scene of a fatal crash at U.S. Highway 27 and Frank Jarrell Road, near Clermont.

A 26-year-old Kissimmee man riding a 2024 Kawasaki motorcycle was involved in a crash with 2020 Chevrolet Trax and a 2023 Dodge Challenger around 6:20 p.m. Sunday. The motorcyclist was pronounced deceased on the scene. There is a roadblock in the area and motorists are asked to use caution.

Motorcyclist Killed in 3-Vehicle Crash near Clermont Sunday Night Read More »

Photo courtesy of Sammie-Ann

Tavares Police Identify Pedestrian Killed on U.S. Highway 441 Friday Night

Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Fla.—Tavares Police Department has identified the man killed on U.S. Highway 441 Friday night.

According to witnesses and TPD’s preliminary investigation, around 8 p.m., Renald Guay, 67, of New Hampshire, was standing in the median of U.S. Highway 441, also known as Burleigh Boulevard, near Lake Eustis Drive, when he began to jaywalk across the highway, TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan said.

He was struck by a white 2014 Lincoln SUV traveling in a southbound lane and being driven by Merle Somers, 50, of Tavares. Somers and her passenger were not injured.  “The vehicle occupants remained on scene and cooperated with investigators,” Sullivan told Inside Lake.

Guay was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. The crash closed the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 441/Burleigh Boulevard for several hours.

Previous story: Pedestrian Struck and Killed on U.S. Highway 441 in Tavares Friday Night, Southbound Lanes Shut Down – Inside Lake

Tavares Police Identify Pedestrian Killed on U.S. Highway 441 Friday Night Read More »

Photo courtesy of Sammie-Ann

Pedestrian Struck and Killed on U.S. Highway 441 in Tavares Friday Night, Southbound Lanes Shut Down

Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

Update: Tavares Police Identify Pedestrian Killed on U.S. Highway 441 Friday Night – Inside Lake

TAVARES, Fla.—Tavares Police Department is investigating a crash that killed a pedestrian and the southbound lanes of Burleigh Boulevard also known as U.S. Highway 441 are closed.

A male was struck near the intersection of Lake Eustis Drive and Burleigh Boulevard around 8 p.m. Friday and was transported to a local hospital, where he later died, TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan told Inside Lake.

Details about how the crash occurred were not available at press time and the man has not been publicly identified.

All southbound lanes of Burleigh Boulevard are closed, and officers are re-routing traffic through turn lanes, Sullivan said. Motorists are being asked to avoid the area while TPD completes its investigation.

Pedestrian Struck and Killed on U.S. Highway 441 in Tavares Friday Night, Southbound Lanes Shut Down Read More »

Mount Dora Police Department and Lake County Sheriff's Office crime scene investigators search the Baldwin home in Mount Dora on Nov. 28. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake

Feds: More than 2 Dozen Child Porn Images and Videos Found on Phone Seized in Missing Mount Dora Mom Case; Husband Planned to Move to North Carolina

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora / By

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.

Previous stories: Husband of Missing Mount Dora Mom Being Held on Federal Charges – Inside Lake

                               Husband of Missing Mount Dora Woman Taken into Custody Thursday Morning – Inside Lake

Nicole Baldwin

 

Feds: More than 2 Dozen Child Porn Images and Videos Found on Phone Seized in Missing Mount Dora Mom Case; Husband Planned to Move to North Carolina Read More »

Lake County Sheriff's Office

Missing Kayaker Found Alive on Lake Eustis

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

EUSTIS, Fla.—The missing kayaker authorities were searching for on Lake Eustis has been found alive, according to Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri.

“His kayak capsized and the (Lake County Sheriff’s Office) Marine Unit found him floating in the middle of the lake,” Capri told Inside Lake. LCSO’s helicopter, Eagle One, also searched for the man, along with Eustis Fire Department.

Previous story: Authorities Searching for Missing Kayaker on Lake Eustis – Inside Lake

Missing Kayaker Found Alive on Lake Eustis Read More »

Authorities Searching for Missing Kayaker on Lake Eustis

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

Update: Missing Kayaker Found Alive on Lake Eustis – Inside Lake

EUSTIS, Fla.—Authorities are searching for a missing kayaker on Lake Eustis.

The man, who was not publicly identified, was last seen Thursday afternoon when he launched the kayak from his home on Lake Eustis, according to Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri. Eustis Fire Department is searching the water with its boat, along with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and LCSO’s helicopter, Eagle One. Residents near the lake are being asked to look around their property for any sign of the man and call 911 if they find anything.

Authorities Searching for Missing Kayaker on Lake Eustis Read More »

Husband of Missing Mount Dora Mom Being Held on Federal Charges

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora / By

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.

This is a developing story.  

Husband of Missing Mount Dora Mom Being Held on Federal Charges Read More »

Husband of Missing Mount Dora Woman Taken into Custody Thursday Morning

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora / By

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.

This is a developing story.  

Husband of Missing Mount Dora Woman Taken into Custody Thursday Morning Read More »

Courtesy photo

Details Released on Triple Fatality Near Groveland

Groveland, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

GROVELAND, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate a crash that killed a man and two women near Groveland Tuesday.

Around 2 p.m., a 2018 Ford Explorer, being driven by a 47-year-old Grand Island man was stopped, facing east on Bridges Road at County Road 33 when it pulled into the direct path of a 1997 Ford dump truck being driven northbound on County Road 33, by a 63-year-old man of Mount Vernon, Maine. The front of the dump truck collided with the right side of the Explorer. The impact caused both vehicles to leave the roadway and travel into the tree line on County Road 33, according to Trooper Migdalisis Garcia.

The driver of the Explorer, and his two passengers, a 35-year-old woman of Longwood, and a 32-year-old woman of Orlando, were all pronounced deceased on the scene, Garcia said.  The dump truck driver suffered minor injuries.

Lake County Fire Rescue, Lake EMS, Groveland Fire Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office assisted FHP on the scene.

Details Released on Triple Fatality Near Groveland Read More »

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