LCSO Archives - Inside Lake

Candlelight vigil scheduled for Eustis mom found murdered last week

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

EUSTIS, Fla.—The community is scheduled to come together Friday night to remember Monica Islam, the woman who was found murdered near Mount Dora last week.

Islam, 44, was found shot to death near Scenic Hills Drive and Wolf Branch around 7:30 a.m. May 2 after vanishing from Shell, 1701 South Bay Street, Eustis approximately 6:10 a.m. the same morning.

According to the missing person report obtained by Inside Lake, Islam’s daughter, Rimi Islam, reported her mother missing around 8:30 a.m. Friday. She told Eustis Police Department they left their home around 5:30 a.m. and arrived at Shell shortly after. She said her mom helped her with opening the store and then she went outside to take a walk around the parking lot, which was normal behavior. Rimi Islam told police she got busy and lost track of where her mom was. Another employee told Rimi Islam she saw Monica Islam in the parking lot as she arrived at work, around 6:10 a.m. Rimi Islam tried calling her mom, who had left her purse behind at the store, and was unable to reach her. After going back to the home they shared and looking for Monica Islam and checking security cameras for her with no success, Rimi Islam reported her missing to EPD.

While investigating Monica’s disappearance, EPD was made aware of a body found near Mount Dora; later identified as Monica Islam. LCSO has been tight-lipped about its investigation, releasing very little information over the past week. LCSO Cpl. Chanel Martin said detectives do not believe Monica Islam’s murder was a random act, and said earlier this week, they were following up on potential leads.

A large photo of Monica Islam is posted on the window next to the front door of Shell, asking anyone with information to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.

*A photo of Monica Islam posted next to the front door of Shell, 1701 South Bay Street, Eustis.*
*PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake*

The candlelight vigil, organized in-part by family friend, Alisha Curtin, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Shell, 1701 South Bay Street, Eustis. Overflow parking is available across Bay Street from Shell at First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 1724 South Bay Street, Eustis; parking will not be available at Harden-Pauli Funeral Home, 1617 South Bay Street due to a previously scheduled, unrelated service.

“This (candlelight vigil) is not being organized by just one person,” Curtin told Inside Lake. “There is a village of people that are contributing to the memory of Monica, including local businesses, such as Publix.”

Amanda Hall, a Lake County native who works nearby, has also assisted with planning the candlelight vigil. Hall lost her own mother three years ago and knows the pain of losing a parent all too well. “(I know how Rimi feels) right now…lost without Mommy.”

Hall said the tight-knit community of Eustis wants “justice for Monica and our hearts and prayers are with Rimi.”

“When something like this happens in our community, we here in Eustis show our support and gather round the ones that need us most,” Curtin said. “A good person was taken from this Earth, and an amazing friend lost her best friend and mother. This is being organized to show our love and kindness throughout this community.”

Previous stories: Woman found dead near Mount Dora is a homicide victim, deputies say – Inside Lake

LCSO treating death of woman reported missing from Eustis as “potential” homicide investigation – Inside Lake

Deputies conducting death investigation near Mount Dora; Eustis police working missing person case, unconfirmed if cases are related – Inside Lake

Candlelight vigil scheduled for Eustis mom found murdered last week Read More »

Eustis Police Department investigates after Monica Islam was reported missing Friday, Courtesy photo

Woman found dead near Mount Dora is a homicide victim, deputies say

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

MOUNT DORA, Fla.—The woman found dead Friday was shot to death and detectives believe it was not a “random act,” according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the area of Scenic Hills Drive and Wolf Branch Road Friday morning after someone reported they found a woman’s body. Deputies responded and found the woman, later identified as Monica Islam, 44, who was reported missing from Eustis, Eustis Police Department Chief Craig Capri told Inside Lake Friday.

According to the missing person report obtained by Inside Lake, Islam’s daughter, Rimi Islam, reported her mother missing around 8:30 a.m. Friday. She told EPD they left their home around 5:30 a.m. and arrived at Shell, 1701 South Bay Street, shortly after. She said her mom helped her with opening the store and then she walked outside to take a walk around the parking lot, which was normal behavior.

Rimi Islam said she got busy and lost track of where her mom was and asked another employee if she had seen her, the report states. The employee said she saw Monica Islam walking in the parking lot as she arrived at work, around 6:10 a.m. Rimi Islam tried calling her mom and was unable to reach her, and she went home to look for her. After checking her security cameras, she confirmed Monica Islam did not go back home. She called her mom multiple times, and was unable to reach her, so she called police.

EPD canvassed the area looking for Monica Islam and and went to the home she shares with her daughter. After officers were unable to find her, she was entered as a missing person and a BOLO (be on the lookout) was generated in an effort to find her.

An EPD officer soon spoke with an LCSO sergeant who said they were working a case involving a deceased female found on the roadside. The sergeant gave EPD details that matched the description of Monica Islam and LCSO responded to Islam’s home, along with EPD detectives, to speak with her daughter. The body was positively identified as Monica Islam later the same day.

An autopsy was performed by the Medical Examiner’s Office, and on Tuesday, LCSO Cpl. Chanel Martin said Monica Islam’s cause of death was a gunshot wound, and the manner of death is homicide.

“Detectives believe that this was not a random act, and we expect to release additional details as they continue to follow up on potential leads” Martin said.

If you have information on Islam’s murder, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.

Woman found dead near Mount Dora is a homicide victim, deputies say Read More »

LCSO deputy shot in rescue attempt of murdered deputy returns to light duty

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Fla.—Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stefano Gargano returned to temporary light duty Monday, a little more than nine months after he was shot multiple times.

On Aug. 2, 2024, Gargano was shot, suffering traumatic injuries, during a rescue attempt of Master Deputy Bradley Link. Link and K9 Master Deputy Harold Howell, along with several other deputies, were performing a well-being check at the home Julie and Michael Sulpizio shared with their adult daughters, Savannah and Cheyenne Sulpizio, located 38144 Brookside Drive in unincorporated Eustis, following a Baker Act of Julie Sulpizio. After finding two dead dogs in the yard, a window with a broken screen and multiple announcements made by Link over his PA system, shortly after 9 p.m., Link, Howell and three other deputies attempted to enter the Sulpizio home. They entered through the rear door near the driveway that opens to a small laundry room and leads into a hallway that goes left and right.

Link approached the hallway and announced he was going left and indicated Howell should go right. As Link walked into the hallway, his bodycam picked up several frames of what appeared to be a male wearing a black shirt or body armor, with a rifle, positioned on the arm of a couch, ready to ambush deputies. Link did not see the man because he was looking left down the hallway, and the bodycam was facing forward, Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said last year.

Link entered the hallway and the suspect, believed to be Michael Sulpizio, opened fire, shooting Link in the back several times, and Howell was shot in the arm. Howell and the other deputies were forced to retreat out of the residence and Link was immobilized, suffering multiple gunshot wounds. He attempted to crawl on his back to cover but was unsuccessful. Link emptied his duty weapon of all rounds, Grinnell said, and moved his hand in what appeared to be an attempt to answer his radio as his ID number was called out but was also unsuccessful. He was shot several more times.

Link’s bodycam continued to record audio and video and was pointed toward the ceiling, and at 9:24 p.m., a female yelled, “My king kill all of you. You are Lucifer’s children,” in response to deputies asking for Link’s release.

Two minutes later the Street Crimes team, comprised of Deputy Corey LaBrecque, Deputy Matthew Green, Cpl. Tyler Palmer and Gargano entered the home, with Gargano in the lead with a ballistic shield as cover. It was later revealed Gargano insisted he go first because he was the only member of the team who did not have children. As he approached the threshold of the hallway, Gargano was shot through the wall multiple times, by high-caliber rounds, causing him to become incapacitated. The team returned fire and extracted Gargano. LaBrecque immediately began assessing and treating Gargano’s injuries, and accompanied Gargano in the ambulance as he was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital as a trauma alert.

Just after 11 p.m. deputies heard two rapid gunshots and a third shot a few minutes later and LCSO’s SWAT Team ripped a wall off the residence and extracted Link. He was rushed to a waiting ambulance for transport to a landing zone so he could be flown out for treatment. While en route, the decision was made to transport him to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares, where he was ultimately pronounced deceased.

As the SWAT Team cleared the home, they found two deceased females on the couch, dead from what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head. Michael Sulpizio was found on the couch with a gunshot wound and a faint pulse. He was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.

A search of the home revealed a stockpile of 20 firearms placed strategically around the home. Ammunition, food and water, medical bags and bugout bags, in addition to anti-government propaganda were also found. No illegal drugs were found in the home.

*Top: Deputy Stefano Gargano; Deputy Corey LaBrecque*
*Bottom: Deputy Matthew Green; Cpl. Tyler Palmer*
*PHOTOS: Lake County Sheriff’s Offic*e

In March, the Street Crimes team and Howell, along with many others, were honored by LCSO for their actions that tragic evening. Gargano, LaBrecque, Green and Palmer were each awarded the Medal of Honor; LaBrecque was awarded the Lifesaving Medal, Howell was awarded the Medal of Valor; and both Gargano and Howell were awarded the Purple Heart, at the ceremony in Leesburg. The three deputies who entered the home with Link and Howell, Master Deputy Christopher Kessinger, Deputy Stephen Snow, and Sgt. Christopher Stevens, were each awarded the Medal of Valor. Link was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Gargano returned to temporary light duty Monday and Howell continues to recover from his injuries.

LCSO deputy shot in rescue attempt of murdered deputy returns to light duty Read More »

Eustis Police Department collects evidence in the case of woman reported missing from a gas station Friday. Photo Courtesy of Carl Fowler

LCSO treating death of woman reported missing from Eustis as “potential” homicide investigation

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Mount Dora / By Marilyn M. Aciego

MOUNT DORA, Fla.—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has released the identity of the woman found dead near Mount Dora Friday and Eustis Police Department has confirmed she is the subject of its missing person investigation.

LCSO responded to the area of Scenic Hills Drive and Wolf Branch Road Friday morning after a caller reported they found a woman’s body. Deputies responded and found Monica Islam, 44, a woman who was reported missing from Eustis, EPD Chief Craig Capri said.

*Law enforcement investigates after the body of Monica Islam, 44, was found Friday morning near Mount Dora. PHOTO: Bonnie Whicher/Inside Lake*

LCSO detectives are working the investigation as a potential homicide, pending information from the Medical Examiner’s Office, Cpl. Chanel Martin said.

Islam was reported missing to EPD by her daughter Friday morning and detectives and a crime scene investigator were at Shell, 1701 South Bay Street, Eustis, the last place Islam was seen, collecting evidence, Capri told Inside Lake.

Islam was at the store visiting with her daughter, an employee, when she walked outside, her daughter told police.

“She walked out of the store and never came back ,” Capri said.

Video surveillance showed Islam walking out of the store, but did not capture any potential suspects, he said. Islam’s body was found a short time later, but the exact time was not available at press time.

If you have information on Islam’s disappearance, or death, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers may be eligible for a reward.

Previous story: Deputies conducting death investigation near Mount Dora; Eustis police working missing person case, unconfirmed if cases are related – Inside Lake

LCSO treating death of woman reported missing from Eustis as “potential” homicide investigation Read More »

Law enforcement conducts a death investigation near Mount Dora Friday. PHOTO: Bonnie Whicher/Inside Lake

Deputies conducting death investigation near Mount Dora; Eustis police working missing person case, unconfirmed if cases are related

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora / By Marilyn M. Aciego

MOUNT DORA, Fla.—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is in unincorporated Mount Dora conducting a “death investigation” regarding a deceased adult, LCSO Cpl. Chanel Martin told Inside Lake Friday.

Multiple tipsters reached out to Inside Lake about the large law enforcement presence near Scenic Hills Drive and Wolf Branch Road.

Limited information was released late Friday morning.

“The scene is secure and there is no danger to the public,” Martin said. “It doesn’t appear to be a result of natural cause. Detectives are on scene trying to gather more information.”

There is also a large law enforcement presence at Shell, 1701 South Bay Street, Eustis; Inside Lake reached out to Eustis Police Department Chief Craig Capri and he would not confirm if the two scenes are related.

“We are working a missing person case and it’s a fluid and active investigation. I can’t confirm at this time if they are related,” Capri told Inside Lake.

This is a developing story.

*Eustis Police Department is on scene investigating a missing person case on Bay Street. Photo courtesy of Carl Fowler*

Deputies conducting death investigation near Mount Dora; Eustis police working missing person case, unconfirmed if cases are related Read More »

Report of gunshot wound in Umatilla Tuesday night was a false alarm

Inside Scoop, Umatilla / By Marilyn M. Aciego

UMATILLA, Fla.—A report of a gunshot victim Tuesday night in Umatilla was a false alarm, according to a Umatilla Police Department report.

UPD responded to Circle K, 391 North Central Avenue to meet the purported victim, Dana Waltrip shortly before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night. Waltrip arrived at the gas station shortly after a UPD officer and appeared “unsteady” and had a bloodstain on the right shoulder area of his shirt. Waltrip said he did not know what had happened to him and the officer asked him if he had been shot.

Waltrip showed the officer the back of his head and the officer observed a “round wound with blood and unidentified matter protruding out,” according to the report, UPD asked him what happened, who did it and where it happened. Waltrip did not answer the officer’s questions, but said, he was at “the Altoona store” and was headed to the hospital when he stopped at the Southside Plaza on the south end of Umatilla and then traveled to Circle K where he met UPD.

Waltrip was “reluctant” be transported for his wound, but agreed after the wound was explained to him, the report states. He was transported to a field near Umatilla Fire Department and was again “reluctant “to be transported for treatment. EMS believed the wound was from a gunshot and convinced Waltrip to get treatment, according to the report, and Waltrip was airlifted to an area hospital.

UPD went to Circle K, 42404 State Road 19, Altoona to gather information but was unsuccessful, while Lake County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations, detectives and a K9 unit responded to Southside Plaza to search for evidence. They were also unsuccessful, according to the report.

Around 11 p.m. LCSO supervisors advised UPD hospital staff called and said Waltrip was not shot and had only suffered a small abrasion, and a CT scan confirmed there was not a bullet in Waltrip’s head. Waltrip refused to speak with detectives about the incident, and at press time, UPD was unable to confirm if a crime had been committed.

Report of gunshot wound in Umatilla Tuesday night was a false alarm Read More »

Master Deputy Bradley Link's handcuffs were used to arrest Julie Sulpizio last year for an ambush attack on Lake County Sheriff's Office deputies. PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff's Office

Competency review hearing scheduled for matriarch accused of ambush attack on deputies

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Fla.—A competency review hearing for the lone survivor of a family deputies say plotted to kill them last year is scheduled for next month.

Julie Ann Sulpizio was declared incompetent to stand trial in February for charges stemming from the August 2024 ambush attack outside Eustis that killed Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link and wounded K9 Master Deputy Harold Howell and Deputy Stefano Gargano.

According to Circuit Judge Brian Welke’s order to transport and notice of hearing, the court has been noticed Sulpizio “is competent to proceed, or otherwise no longer meets criteria for continued commitment…” The order goes on to state Sulpizio must be delivered to the appropriate detention facility within seven days of the order, filed late Tuesday afternoon.

Sulpizio, 48, is accused of starting an altercation with her neighbors on Brookside Drive in unincorporated Eustis on Aug. 2, 2024. LCSO responded to the altercation and during a well-being check at her home, just down the street from the original call, deputies were ambushed. Link was shot and suffered fatal wounds, and in an immediate rescue attempt of Link, Howell was shot in the wrist and in a subsequent rescue attempt, Gargano was shot multiple times. Howell and Gargano have not returned to duty and continue to recover from their injuries.

Evidence at the scene revealed Julie’s husband, Michael, and daughters, Cheyenne and Savannah, all participated in the attack and opened fire on the deputies; all three were found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds after LCSO’s SWAT Team entered the home.

If declared competent, 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.

Competency review hearing scheduled for matriarch accused of ambush attack on deputies Read More »

BREAKING NEWS: Man shot and killed by deputy after producing handgun in Clermont early Saturday

Clermont, Inside Scoop / By Marilyn M. Aciego

CLERMONT, Fla.—A man is dead after being shot by a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy shortly after midnight, according to LCSO.

Just after 12:15 a.m. LCSO responded to a report of a suspicious person standing in the road yelling at passing vehicles in the area of Via Roma Circle in Clermont, and a second call came in reporting the man was beating on a resident’s door, LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said in an email.

When they arrived, they asked the man, later identified as 39-year-old Eric Escobar, to show his hands; Escobar refused.

“While trying to communicate with the individual, he produced a handgun, forcing one of our deputies to fire his service weapon,” Vachon said.

Escobar was pronounced deceased on the scene. No deputies or residents were injured in the incident.

The deputy, whose name has not been released, has been placed on administrative leave, pending a review by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, standard procedure in a deputy-involved shooting,

BREAKING NEWS: Man shot and killed by deputy after producing handgun in Clermont early Saturday Read More »

2 south Lake County schools on lockdown “out of an abundance of caution”

Inside Scoop, Minneola / By Marilyn M. Aciego

Update: The suspect has been taken into custody.

MINNEOLA, Fla.—Two schools are on lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” as Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies are attempting to take a subject into custody on a warrant at a home in Minneola, according to LCSO.

Lake Minneola High School and Grassy Lake Elementary are currently on lockdown due to their proximity to the incident location off of Hancock Road, LCSO said. No other information was released.

This is a developing story.

2 south Lake County schools on lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” Read More »

Stretch of Minneola highway to be renamed in fallen deputy’s honor

Minneola, News Briefs, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

MINNEOLA, Fla.—The Minneola City Council adopted a resolution Tuesday, designating a portion of U.S. Highway 27 to be renamed in Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link’s honor.

The stretch of roadway, from Division Street to County Road 561, will be renamed the “Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link Memorial Highway.” Link’s parents accepted the resolution, and once the final bill is approved in Tallahassee, the official change will be made.

Link was killed Aug. 3, 2024 when LCSO responded to an altercation and then performed a well-being check in unincorporated Eustis. During the well-being check, 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 are still recovering from their injuries and have not returned to duty.

Stretch of Minneola highway to be renamed in fallen deputy’s honor Read More »