TAVARES, Fla.—The woman accused of helping mastermind an ambush attack on Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies may pay for her crimes with her life.
Fifth Judicial Circuit Assistant State Attorney Kenneth Nunnelley filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty late Tuesday afternoon in the case against Julie Sulpizio.
Sulpizio, 48, is accused of starting an altercation with her neighbors on Brookside Drive in unincorporated Eustis on Aug. 2. LCSO responded to the altercation and during a well-being check at her home, just down the street from the original call, Master Deputy Bradley Link was shot and suffered fatal wounds. In an immediate rescue attempt of Link, K9 Master Deputy Harold Howell was shot in the wrist and in a subsequent rescue attempt, Deputy Stefano Gargano was shot multiple times. Howell and Gargano have since been released from the hospital and continue to recover from their injuries.
Evidence at the scene revealed Julie’s husband, Michael, and daughters, Cheyenne and Savannah, opened fire on the deputies and all three were found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds after LCSO’s SWAT made entry to the home.
Sulpizio is facing a multitude of charges, including principal to first degree murder of a law enforcement officer, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, three counts of principal to attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement officer, three counts of battery and one count of battery on a law enforcement officer.
Sulpizio is being held on no bond at an undisclosed detention center and has pleaded not guilty.
TAVARES, Fla.—The father of 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions, and his girlfriend, have been indicted for Jamaria’s brutal murder.
Lojuan Sessions, 26, and Tyshael Martin, 34, are both being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond, accused of ongoing abuse that led to the death of Jamaria, who would have been in fourth grade this school year.
Martin pleaded not guilty to her crimes Monday morning and was ordered not to have contact with Jamaria’s next of kin, Althea Chenault. Chenault, known as, “Nana” to Jamaria, is Jamaria’s maternal grandmother. Chenault had custody of Jamaria and her little sister Jaliah, following the death of their mother, Tadrina Dort. Inside Lake named Jaliah in this story at the request of Chenault because the sisters were so close. Dort died in September 2022 from congestive heart failure after beating leukemia; she was only 24 years old. Sessions was serving a prison sentence when Dort died and he picked the girls up from school without Chenault’s permission in October 2023, after his release. A probable cause affidavit, written by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office detective who investigated Jamaria’s case, states the detective uncovered evidence that the abuse started the day the girls were picked up from school by their father.
Tyshael Martin was arraigned Monday. VIDEO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake
Chenault was in attendance for Martin’s arraignment, along with her son, Trane Chenault. They also attended Martin’s first appearance right after she was arrested, and they plan on attending Sessions’ arraignment for aggravated manslaughter of a child, scheduled for Monday.
“We’re going to be there for everything,” Althea Chenault told Inside Lake.
Chenault is also fighting to get Jaliah back into her care, her next court date is the custody case is scheduled for November. Jaliah is currently in the care of another maternal family member.
Jamaria, left, Althea “Nana” Chenault and Jaliah. Photo courtesy of Althea Chenault
Martin is charged with first degree murder, aggravated child abuse and child neglect. During her arraignment, Circuit Judge James Baxley stated Martin was charged with second degree murder and documentation in the case also stated second degree murder. Inside Lake reached out to Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson’s office for an explanation.
“The document… was supposed to be utilized as a placeholder for information until we formerly indicted on the more serious charge (Monday,)” Brittney Carman, Public Information Officer for Gladson’s Office said in an email.
Martin told Baxley she is retaining a private attorney and expected him to speak with her Monday; at press time Wednesday, she still did not have an attorney, according to Lake County Clerk of Court online records.
MARYLAND—For 13 years, Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri has been riding his bicycle to honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and fallen law enforcement officers around the country during the Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride, and this year the ride means a bit more— he is riding for fallen Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link.
The memorial ride started in 2002 and has since evolved into honoring both the victims of 9/11 and law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
“This year I’m dedicating my ride to Master Deputy Link, who made the ultimate sacrifice” Capri said. “(The loss of Link) touched everybody in Lake County.”
Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri is honoring Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link in this year’s Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride. Courtesy photos
Participants started their four-day ride Friday and will travel about 180 miles to honor and raise money for the families of law enforcement officers who lost their lives. The route participants ride is not publicly released for safety reasons.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 4,723 law enforcement officers have lost their lives since 2001. That figure does not include law enforcement officers who died in 2024.
Capri, an avid bicyclist in his off-time, said he plans on participating in this annual event until he is in his 90s because it is so important to him.
“We honor the memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Capri told Inside Lake. “We can never forget these heroes.”
Link’s photo will be affixed to Capri’s bicycle for the entire ride through Maryland and Delaware.
TAVARES, Fla.—Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stefano Gargano has been released from the hospital.
More than 100 fellow law enforcement officers, friends and family members lined the sidewalk to welcome Gargano as he was released from HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford, exactly one month after he was shot while attempting to rescue Master Deputy Bradley Link Aug. 2 from a home outside of Eustis. He was escorted to Lake County by multiple law enforcement agencies across Central Florida under a bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds.
Gargano was shot multiple times, as he and a team entered the home of Michael, Julie, Cheyenne and Savannah Sulpizio, to rescue Link after he was shot multiple times and trapped in the home. Link succumbed to his injuries.
K9 Master Deputy Harold Howell was also shot; he was released from the hospital Aug. 6 and has been recovering at his home.
Michael, Cheyenne and Savannah Sulpizio all died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Julie Sulpizio, who set the tragic night in motion by starting an altercation with her neighbors, was Baker Acted from the scene before the shootings occurred. She was later indicted on charges of principal to premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer, three counts of principal to attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, conspiracy to commit murder, battery on law enforcement officer and three counts of battery.
EUSTIS, Fla.—Two accused burglars are behind bars after a tip from a Mount Dora homeless camp led a Eustis Police Department detective straight to one of the suspects.
On Sunday, EPD road patrol officers responded to Ace Hardware, 18691 U.S. Highway 441 on a report of a burglary. Officers found muddy tire tracks that appeared to be from a lawnmower, a broken fence, a blue mask and a camera sprayed with a white substance, likely paint, according to an arrest affidavit.
Video footage showed a man, later identified as Roy “Saint” Perrott, 23, wearing a black t-shirt with “original recipe” emblazoned on the front and a KFC chicken bucket on the back, and riding a lawnmower towing a trailer. He was coming west from U.S. Highway 441 and entered Ace Hardware through Gables Drive just before 7:30 a.m. The business is closed on Sundays.
Perrott was captured on video bringing the trailer, now detached from the lawnmower, through the broken fence. He apparently took a break to urinate, according to the affidavit, and then removed a blue mask and a can of spray paint from a black bag. He sprayed the camera with the paint and then looked back at that camera before entering the business. He walked around and grabbed several items, including a generator and two garden hoses, the affidavit states.
The second suspect, later identified as Joshua Reffitt, 41, was also captured on video coming through the break in the fence. Reffitt’s large tattoo on his right shoulder and arm can be seen in the video while he helped Perrott load two pressure washers onto the trailer. Perrott then secured a box of assorted items and garden hose onto the trailer and is seen driving the mower and trailer away, southbound on U.S. Highway 441.
On Monday afternoon, the owner of Ace Hardware called an EPD detective and informed him about a homeless camp located near U.S. Highway 441 and Wolf Branch Road. The owner told the detective he wanted to check the area to see if he could locate any of the items stolen from his store. The EPD detective, a road patrol officer, Chief Craig Capri and the store owner traveled to the area of the homeless camp and came across a man the detective knew from prior involvements, according to the affidavit.
The man told police he did not know anything about the theft from Ace Hardware, but said he knew Reffitt and, “Joshua (Reffitt) usually is everywhere taking everything,” the affidavit states. He told police Reffitt lived in the backyard of a home on Cherry Lane in Mount Dora and drives a black Dodge Ram he uses to steal things. The man said Reffitt has a “ton of stolen items.”
The detective then went to the home on Cherry Lane and spoke to Reffitt. Reffitt told him he had spoken with Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives about a man he knew as “Saint” (Perrott) who had been committing burglaries and bringing the stolen items on the property where Reffitt is living. He said “Saint” had a bicycle trailer and he would use it to transport the stolen items to the property. He said “Saint” had recently stolen a water pump and golf cart from a nearby flea market and had recently been riding a lawnmower, but he had no idea where it came from. The detective gave Reffitt his number and asked him to contact him if he learned of “Saint’s” whereabouts.
Early Wednesday, Reffitt texted the detective and stated “Saint is here sleeping outside, I’m going to try to keep him here. He’s in the carport by camper.”
The detective, along with another detective and a detective-sergeant went to the home on Cherry Lane. They spoke with the homeowner who allowed them to search the yard, and they found “Saint” aka Perrott sleeping—and wearing the exact clothes he was wearing in the video from Ace Hardware, including the KFC original recipe shirt.
The detective woke him up and introduced himself and Perrott asked what was going on. The detective explained he was a person of interest in the Ace Hardware burglary. Perrott agreed to speak with him and said he did not know anything about the burglary, but then said, “Everything is still here. I’m willing to give you everything.”
Perrott then admitted to the burglary and said he did it because he needed money and was planning on selling the stolen items. Perrott was asked if Reffitt was his accomplice, and Perrott nodded his head yes.
Detectives then went to a trailer on the property and spoke with Reffitt. He was detained and told he was a suspect in the Ace Hardware burglary. He admitted to being there but said he did not take part in the thefts. Reffitt said he told Perrott he was doing the wrong thing, and he (Reffitt) was only dumpster diving. Although Reffitt could be seen on camera committing thefts, with his large tattoo showing, he still denied taking part in the thefts. The owner of Ace Hardware responded to the scene and recovered all of his stolen items.
While Reffitt was being placed in the back of a Lake County Sheriff’s Office patrol car he started having a medical issue. He was placed on the ground and when a deputy got close to his left shorts pocket, he tensed up. His pocket was searched, and two bags of methamphetamine were found. He was transported to AdventHealth Waterman, medically cleared and then transported to the Lake County Jail. Perrott was transported to Eustis Police Department for paperwork and then transported to LCJ.
Reffitt is facing charges of burglary, grand theft, criminal mischief and possession of methamphetamine; he is being held on $10,500 bond. Perrott is facing two counts of burglary, two counts of grand theft and two counts of criminal mischief; he is being held on $16,000 bond.
Evidence believed to be related to a theft in the city limits of Mount Dora and several thefts in LCSO’s jurisdiction was also found and more charges may be forthcoming.
MONTVERDE, Fla.—Horrifying details have been released in the murder 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Tyshael Martin, the girlfriend of Jamaria’s father Lojuan Sessions, ordered a 103-pound rottweiler to attack the girl, and savagely dragged and kicked her-and it was all caught on video.
Shortly before 5 a.m. June 17, Lake EMS responded to 16017 Harbar Oaks Drive, Montverde on a report of an unresponsive child. She was pronounced deceased by Lake EMS.
Martin told EMS she woke up that morning to catch a flight to California with Jamaria and several other children to meet up with Jamaria’s father, Lojuan, who had already left for California a few days earlier—a statement that was later determined to be a lie, when Lojuan Sessions arrived on the scene a short time later, according to the affidavit.
After waking up, Martin said she attempted to wake Jamaria up and she found her unresponsive and cold to the touch. Lake EMS observed multiple injuries to Jamaria including a “significant” number of abrasions, small punctures, burns, possible bite marks and bruising covering her body, all in various stages of healing. Lake EMS requested the Lake County Sheriff’s Office respond after noting rigor mortis in Jamaria’s jaw. According to Florida State University, if a body feels cold and stiff, death likely occurred between 8 and 36 hours prior.
A Facebook post shared by Tyshael Martin the day before Jamaria Sessions was found deceased.
After arriving on scene, Lojuan Sessions “appeared to be in disbelief” that his daughter had been at the residence since June 9 because he believed she was in California.
He told detectives he and Martin had been arguing lately, leading to the demise of their relationship and he moved in with his mother in Ocoee. On May 31, Martin, along with Jamaria, her daughters, and her mother, Torcha Martin left for Miami to stay there until June 2 when they were scheduled to leave for a cruise that would return on June 9. Lojuan Sessions did not go on the cruise because he was on felony probation.
Jamaria Sessions. Photo courtesy of Joseph Robinson and Althea Chenault
On June 10, Martin texted Lojuan Sessions and told him Torcha Martin had taken Jamaria back to California with her. This was also determined to be a lie. Lojuan Sessions went to the home in Montverde that evening and throughout the next few days he never saw his daughter at the home or heard her and he believed she was in California with Torcha Martin. On June 12, Lojuan and Tyshael Martin were arguing and Tyshael Martin sprayed him with bug spray while he was sleeping. He moved out of the home the following day, he told detectives.
Detectives later found out Lojuan was having an affair with another woman while Tyshael Martin was on the cruise with his daughter. The woman subsequently became pregnant with Lojuan Sessions’ child, but it is unknown if Tyshael Martin knew about the affair, according to the affidavit.
A post from Tyshael Martin’s Facebook page
After interviewing Tyshael Martin’s daughters, detectives learned after returning from the cruise, that on June 16, Tyshael Martin drove Jamaria to the airport, along with others whose names are redacted, to catch a flight to California. They stopped at a store on the drive and Tyshael gave Jamaria a Gatorade and a banana because she was not feeling well. Jamaria vomited after eating the banana and when they arrived at the airport, Jamaria “expressed discomfort” while walking through the parking lot. Tyshael Martin attempted to locate a wheelchair, and it caused them to miss the flight. The flight was rescheduled for June 25, and they returned home to Montverde. A person whose name is redacted from the affidavit, was “doing” Jamaria’s hair, using boiling water from a pink electric kettle. That person saturated Jamaria’s hair with boiling water in an effort to straighten it and boiling water landed on Jamaria’s right foot. That person told detectives Jamaria did not complain of pain and was wearing a compression sock due to a prior ankle injury she allegedly suffered from tripping over a bag of dog food. No one took Jamaria for medical treatment for the burn or the ankle injury. On June 16, the sock was taken off Jamaria’s foot and it removed the skin from the top of her foot where the boiling water landed.
Video from June 15 later showed Tyshael Martin kicking Jamaria in the hip/lower back area, causing her to fall over a bag of dog food and detectives believe this is how Jamaria truly injured her ankle.
Dashara King, 17 years old at the time of the murder, and the biological daughter of Tyshael Martin, told detectives she, her mother and Lojuan Sessions often physically punished Jamaria, but two other people whose names are redacted also had permission to punish Jamaria. During interviews with the Department of Children and Families (DCF,) it was revealed that physical punishment consisted of “wall-sits,” running in place, running on the treadmill, being struck with an object both above and below the waist and depriving Jamaria of toys and electronics. Every child in the home had their own room with furniture and a bed, but Jamaria was made to sleep on the couch or on a crib mattress in another child’s room, according to the affidavit.
Detectives also learned Tyshael Martin was alone in a room with Jamaria throughout the night of June 16, until she was discovered deceased. Tyshael Martin claimed she was asleep from 6 p.m. June 16 until 4 a.m. June 17, with the exception of a brief midnight phone call from her mother, Torcha Martin. Evidence later showed that was another lie.
During an on-scene preliminary exam of Jamaria by the medical examiner, injuries were noted all over her small body, consistent with abuse. These injuries included superficial lacerations consistent with being pinched with significant force, her face was swollen, she had broken teeth, blood in her left ear, along with a penetration wound behind her ear, in addition to contusions all over her body.
In an interview about Jamaria’s injuries, Tyshael Martin said Jamaria suffered the injuries while falling off of a treadmill and falling downstairs and her lacerations were blamed on “having a reaction to something,” the affidavit states.
“Bluestar Forensic” a blood developer that allows the detection of blood traces invisible to the naked eye, was used on the treadmill and surrounding areas and showed no traces of blood. However, blood was detected on the stairs, master bathtub, a downstairs hallway leading to a closet and within that closet.
On June 17, Tyshael Martin consented to a search of her cell phone and images were extracted showing possible abuse of Jamaria, in addition to screenshots between “BD” and Tyshael, where “BD” accuses Tyshael Martin of abuse. “BD” is believed to be an acronym for “Baby Daddy” and is believed to be Lojuan Sessions. Other cell phone extractions showed Tyshael Martin often bragged about the “creative ways” she disciplined Jamaria.
On June 18, during Jamaria’s autopsy, the medial examiner noted the number of superficial injuries covering the majority of her body, advised it appeared to be torture inflicted by fingernails and injuries consistent with being struck by something, possibly wire.
On June 20, DCF filed a Dependency Shelter Hearing and on June 25, Lake Circuit Judge Jason Nimeth ruled Tyshael Martin was to have “no contact” with the children. The following day, the caretaker reported Tyshael Martin was contacting the children via cellphones and other electronic devices. The devices were seized, and a search warrant was executed on the children’s devices.
Vivint home security provided detectives with 2,828 videos from both the interior and exterior of the home in Montverde. Six video files dated June 15 between 11:50 p.m. and 11:57 p.m. showed this information, taken directly from the affidavit.
(Videos show) “Jamaira Sessions being viciously attacked by the family pet, a 103-pound male rottweiler as Jamaria was just out of frame, however, Tyshael Martin could be seen holding the leash of the dog, and is heard encouraging the dog to bite Jamaria Sessions as Jamaria laid on the floor, ending with Jamaria Sessions attempting to stand up in the doorway coming into frame. The next clips show Jamaria Sessions staggering, nude and disheveled. Jamaria’s hair, previously in a partial bun, was now messy, and her extensions were falling out of her hair. It appeared that the dog had bitten the child’s head, pulling at her hair, at the command of Tyshael Martin. Following this clip, Jamaria Sessions is commanded to stand in the room with her arms up by Tyshael Martin. Jamaria Sessions exhibited an orbital sway, appearing to be disorientated, similar to being intoxicated, and leaned forward to pick up a blanket to cover herself. This prompted Tyshael Martin to deliver a kick to the rear of the child causing her to collapse to the floor. The child lay motionless, moaning in pain, as Tyshael Martin continued to kick her hip and eventually her stomach area at full force. When the child did not get up, Tyshael Martin then grabbed the child by her hair, pulling her across the floor, with minimal resistance by Jamaria Sessions, who appeared to be disorientated and motionless. The child was dragged near the stairs, which is where the dog attack occurred, which was just out of frame. Tyshael Martin continued to command the child, Jamaria Sessions, to stand up, and as Jamaria physically could not comply, Jamaria was repeatedly struck and shaken by Tyshael Martin. The next video clip begins with Tyshael Martin stating what sounds like, ‘I’m fixing to kill her.’”
At least one of Tyshael Martin’s daughters apparently witnessed the attack on Jamaria.
On Aug. 27, an LCSO detective received a 26-page autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office. Jamaria’s cause of death was “complications of multiple blunt injuries of the head, torso and extremities and thermal injury of the right foot.” Her manner of death was homicide and the “stated, multiple blunt injuries (abrasions, contusions, and lacerations,) recent and healing, of head, torso and extremities. Probable rhabdomyolysis and partial thickness burns of right foot.”
According to the National Library of Medicine, rhabdomyolysis is a complex medical condition involving the rapid dissolution of damaged or injured skeletal muscle. It can range from an asymptomatic illness to a life-threatening condition.
Medical records obtained by the detective showed Jamaria had not received any medical attention since March 2024 when her father took her to South Lake Hospital for a severe dog bite. Tyshael Martin was arrested Wednesday in Montverde for first degree murder, aggravated child abuse and child neglect. She is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.
Jamaria and her younger sister, who Inside Lake is not naming, began living with their father in October 2023 after he was released from prison. Jamaria’s sister then went to live with Lojuan Sessions’ mother in December 2023 because she was “causing strain” in the relationship between Lojuan Sessions and Tyshael Martin.
Jamaria Sessions is seen here in a Facebook post from Tyshael Martin the month after Jamaria’s father, Lojuan Sessions, picked her up from school without permission from her maternal grandmother.
Before that, they lived with their maternal grandmother, Althea Chenault, following the death of their mother. Tadrina Dort. Dort died in 2022 from congestive heart failure in 2022, after beating cancer. According to Chenault, Sessions picked the girls up from an Orange County school in October 2023 without permission. Chenault, who does not have an attorney, had been fighting to get the girls back ever since. She had not seen her granddaughters since the day their father picked them up, she told Inside Lake.
Chenault continues to fight for custody of Jamaria’s little sister who is currently living with Dort’s father.
MONTVERDE, Fla.—An arrest has been made in the murder of a 9-year-old Montverde girl, the girl’s family told Inside Lake Thursday morning.
Tyshael Elise Martin, 34, was arrested Wednesday night for the murder of Jamaria Sessions, Martin is the girlfriend of Lojuan Sessions, Jamaria’s father. According to Lake County Jail online booking records, Martin is facing charges of first degree murder, aggravated child abuse and child neglect and is being held on no bond at LCJ.
Jamaria was found dead at a home in Montverde June 17 and detectives have been investigating the case for more than two months.
Althea Chenault, Jamaria’s maternal grandmother, reached out to Inside Lake early Thursday morning and about the arrest.
“I’m just glad justice has been served,” Chenault said, but “It will still be an uphill battle (with court.)”
TAVARES, Fla.—A Leesburg man remains in the Lake County Jail, accused of stealing an ambulance from a Leesburg hospital last week.
Derek Tyrone Watkins, 22, was apprehended near Independence Boulevard in Groveland by Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies casually strolling away from the ambulance early Friday morning, dash cam video obtained by Inside Lake shows.
According to an arrest affidavit, Watkins stole the fully-stocked ambulance from the emergency bay at UF Health Leesburg Hospital, 600 East Dixie Avenue, Leesburg, while a paramedic from Sumter County cleaned off a stretcher inside the hospital after dropping off a patient around 2:30 a.m. Friday.
Watkins was spotted hanging around the emergency bay by nurses who recognized him, and video surveillance also showed Watkins, positively identified by the responding Leesburg Police Department officer, in the area of the ambulance, the affidavit states. Another surveillance video showed the ambulance speeding out of the hospital parking lot onto Pine Street.
The Leesburg Communication Center (LCC) tracked the ambulance through Sumter County Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and it was tracked speeding south down U.S. Highway 27 until it finally stopped at 2100 Independence Boulevard, Groveland—more than 14 miles away.
Dash cam video shows the moment a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulls up on Derek Watkins. *May contain graphic language.*
LCC relayed the tracking information to LCSO, and a deputy spotted the ambulance and Watkins walking nearby. Watkins was taken into custody by deputies and handed over to LPD. He was arrested for theft of an ambulance and theft of emergency medical equipment. All the medical equipment was accounted for following an inventory of the ambulance.
Watkins was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $55,000 bond.
TAVARES, Fla.—A Lake County grand jury has indicted Julie Sulpizio for her role in the death of one Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy and the attempted murder of two others on Aug. 2.
Sulpizio is now officially charged with principal to premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer, three counts of principal to attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, conspiracy to commit murder, battery on law enforcement officer, three counts of battery. The battery charges stem for her original altercation with neighbors.
Sulpizio has been held on no bond since her arrest Aug. 5 after she was medically cleared from AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares. She was detained since the night of the incident on a Baker Act, LCSO said earlier this month.
On Aug. 2, Sulpizio started an altercation with her neighbors on Brookside Drive in unincorporated Eustis. She attacked the neighbors and LCSO responded, and during a well-being check at her home, just down the street from the original call, Master Deputy Bradley Link was shot and suffered fatal wounds. In an immediate rescue attempt of Link, K9 Master Deputy Harold Howell was shot in the wrist and in a subsequent rescue attempt, Deputy Stefano Gargano was shot multiple times. Howell was released from the hospital and continues to recover at home; Gargano is still in the hospital and is in stable condition.
Upon entering the home, LCSO’s SWAT Team extracted Link and found Michael, and his adopted daughters, Cheyenne and Savannah Sulpizio, all dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Evidence at the scene indicated all three opened fire and ambushed the deputies.
Sheriff Peyton Grinnell revealed during Link’s Celebration of Life Service, that Link’s wife, Brittany, called her husband that tragic night and one of the assailants answered his phone and spoke to her.
Sulpizio is being held at an undisclosed detention center in the area, “That’s not uncommon in high publicity cases such as this one,” Lt. John Herrell told Inside Lake in an earlier interview.
Sulpizio charged with multiple capital crimes and could face the death penalty.
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.
